Fabrication and characterisation of drug-loaded electrospun polymeric nanofibers for controlled release in hernia repair

Abstract

The chemical distribution and mechanical effects of drug compounds in loaded electrospun scaffolds, a potential material for hernia repair mesh, were characterised and the efficacy of the material was evaluated. Polycaprolactone electrospun fibres were loaded with either the antibacterial agent, irgasan, or the broad-spectrum antibiotic, levofloxacin. The samples were subsequently characterised by rheological studies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle goniometry (CAG), in vitro drug release studies, antibacterial studies and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Increased linear viscoelastic regions observed in the rheometry studies suggest that both irgasan and levofloxacin alter the internal structure of the native polymeric matrix. In vitro drug release studies from the loaded polymeric matrix showed significant differences in release rates for the two drug compounds under investigation. Irgasan showed sustained release, most likely driven by molecular diffusion through the scaffold. Conversely, levofloxacin exhibited a burst release profile indicative of phase separation at the edge of the fibres. Two scaffold types successfully inhibited bacterial growth when tested with strains of E. coli and S. aureus. Electrospinning drug-loaded polyester fibres is an alternative, feasible and effective method for fabricating non-woven fibrous meshes for controlled release in hernia repair.

3D Printing of Drug-Loaded Thermoplastic Polyurethane Meshes: A Potential Material for Soft Tissue Reinforcement in Vaginal Surgery

“…LFX was the antibiotic chosen for this application. In a previous work it was loaded in meshes prepared using electrospinning for hernia repair [26]. This antibiotic was combined with TPU using hot-melt extrusion to prepare filaments for further FDM applications.…”

“…Further studies performed also in new samples for 7 and 14 days. The concentration of LFX was calculated after measuring the UV absorbance of the solution taken from the Eppendorf's with a UV-visible plate reader (PowerWave XS Microplate Spectrophotometer, Bio-Tek, Winooski, VT, USA) at a wavelength of 292 nm as previously reported [26]. For each concentration (control, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%), 1 cm × 1 cm meshes were used in series of 4.…”

Characterization of drug delivery vehicles using atomic force microscopy: current status

“…Barrientos et al incorporated irgasan, and separately, levofloxacin (both antibacterial agents) into scaffolds [98]. AFM images showed crystals of levofloxacin on fibre surfaces, but not those of irgasan; in a related paper [99], the same drugs were incorporated with type I collagen and fibril banding on the levofloxacin-containing fibres was observed confirming the deposition of collagen (Fig.…”

Electrospun Nanomaterials Implementing Antibacterial Inorganic Nanophases

“…This behavior provokes a reduced functionality of the nanofiber membrane against bacteria by releasing all the antibiotics in a very short time frame without guaranteeing a prolonged coverage period. To avoid burst release, different set-ups have been used: Coaxial electrospinning technique allows to create a polymer (e.g., polycaprolactone [76] poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) [77], poly(lactic acid) [78], poly(methyl methacrylate)/nylon [79], and poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) [80]) sheath that encapsulate the antibiotic (e.g., gentamycin, ampicillin, tetracycline hydrochloride) component into the core section of the nanofibers. Another common approach for a sustained release of the antibiotics is to adsorb or encapsulate the drug in a nanostructure such as hydroxyapatite nanoparticles before dispersing it in the polymer solution [81][82][83].…”