Scaffolds with Tunable Properties Constituted by Electrospun Nanofibers of Polyglycolide and Poly(ε‐caprolactone). Issue 7 (7th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Keridou, Ina; Franco, Lourdes; Turon, Pau; del Valle, Luís J.; Puiggalí, Jordi
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular materials and engineering. Volume 303:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-05-07
• Subjects: antibacterial scaffolds -- biodegradable polymers -- drug delivery -- electrospinning -- poly(ε‐caprolactone) -- polyglycolide; Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.201800100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-7492

Abstract

Abstract: Electrospun scaffolds constituted by different mixtures of two biodegradable polyesters are prepared. Specifically, materials with well differentiated properties can be derived from the blending of hydrophilic polyglycolide (PGA) and hydrophobic poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), which are also two of the most applied polymers for biomedical uses. Electrospinning conditions are selected in order to get homogeneous and continuous fibers with diameters in the nano/micrometric range. These conditions are also applied to load the different scaffolds with curcumin (CUR) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) as hydrophobic and hydrophilic bactericide compounds, respectively. Physicochemical characterization of both unloaded and loaded scaffolds is performed and involved Fourier transform infrared and 1 H NMR spectroscopies, morphological observations by scanning electron microscopy, study of thermal properties through calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, and evaluation of surface characteristics through contact angle measurements. Release behavior of the loaded scaffolds is evaluated in two different media. Results point out a well differentiated behavior where the delivery of CUR and even PHMB are highly dependent on the PGA/PCL ratio, the capability of the medium to swell the polymer matrix, and the diffusion of the selected solvent into the electrospun fibers. All samples show a bactericide effect in both hydrophilic cell culture and hydrophobic agar media. Abstract : Scaffolds with tuned properties in terms of hydrophilic/hydrophobic character and drug delivery behavior can be easily obtained by electrospinning of 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, ‐hexafluoroisopropanol solutions of polyglycolide and poly(ε‐caprolactone) mixtures. The ratio between both polymers strongly influences the delivery of drugs with different hydrophobicity such as curcumin and polyhexamethylene biguanide. These loaded scaffolds show bactericide effects independently of culture medium hydrophilicity.