Development of a poly(vinyl alcohol)/lysine electrospun membrane-based drug delivery system for improved skin regeneration.

Rosa S Sequeira,Sónia P Miguel,André F Moreira,Ilídio J Correia,Cátia S.D Cabral,Paula Ferreira

doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118640

Rosa S Sequeira, Sónia P Miguel + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118640

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Abstract

Nanofiber-based wound dressings are currently being explored as delivery systems of different biomolecules for avoiding skin infections as well as improve/accelerate the healing process. In the present work, a nanofibrous membrane composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lysine (Lys) was produced by using the electrospinning technique. Further, anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen (IBP)) and antibacterial (lavender oil (LO)) agents were incorporated within the electrospun membrane through blend electrospinning and surface physical adsorption methods, respectively. The obtained results demonstrated that the PVA_Lys electrospun membranes incorporating IBP or LO displayed the suitable morphological, mechanical and biological properties for enhancing the wound healing process. Moreover, the controlled and sustained release profile attained for IBP was appropriate for the duration of the wound healing inflammatory phase, whereas the initial burst release of LO is crucial to prevent wound bacterial contamination. Indeed, the PVA_Lys_LO electrospun membranes were able to mediate a strong antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, without compromising human fibroblasts viability. Overall, the gathered data emphasizes the potential of the PVA_Lys electrospun membranes-based drug delivery systems to be used as wound dressings.

Highlights

After a skin injury occurs, a complex wound healing process is immediately initiated to re-establish, as soon as possible, skin structure and functions (Gurtner et al, 2008)
The advances in the nanotechnology area highlighted the promising properties of the electrospun nanofibers to be used as a drug delivery systems (Goyal et al, 2016; Miguel et al, 2019a)
The results revealed that the fibroblast cells maintained a normal phenotype and remained biologically active at the surface of electrospun membranes for 3 days, corroborating the data obtained through Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis

Summary

Introduction

After a skin injury occurs, a complex wound healing process is immediately initiated to re-establish, as soon as possible, skin structure and functions (Gurtner et al, 2008). There are gels and creams incorporating drugs (Mederma®, Contractubex®, Cybele®Scagel, Erasé gel, etc) that are used in the clinic to accelerate/ ameliorate the wound healing process (Gizaw et al, 2018; Miguel et al, 2018; Sidgwick et al, 2015). These dressings require periodic replacement and display a limited therapeutic outcome. Researchers have been devoted to develop advanced regenerative dressings, that: i) protect the wound; ii) are biodegradable; iii) are biocompatible; iv) promote the wound exudate absorption and v) are able to provide a sustained release of drugs that enhance the wound healing process as well as decrease patient pain (Gizaw et al, 2018; Miguel et al, 2018; Miguel et al, 2019a)

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