On-demand release of ciprofloxacin from a smart nanofiber depot with acoustic stimulus

Abstract

Herein, an antibiotic-loaded electrospun scaffold with improved drug delivery via acoustic stimulation has been developed. Ultrasound stimulus with an intensity of 15 W/cm2, duty-cycle of 50% and duration of 10 min was repeatedly applied to ciprofloxacin loaded alginate fibers. Ultrasonication with the aforesaid conditions increased drug release from scaffold probably due to disturbance of ionic crosslinks of alginate network. Scaffolds exposed to acoustic stimulus revealed higher antibacterial activity compared to those with no stimulus. Interestingly, antibiotic release radically increased and antibacterial function improved as ultrasound perturbed scaffold framework, but scaffold integrity was regained once the ultrasound probe was retracted.