Optimal Aloe vera encapsulated PCL/Gel nanofiber design for skin substitute application and the evaluation of its in vivo implantation

Abstract

The use of nanofibers in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound dressing has become an interesting topic among researchers. Hybrid and blend electrospun nanofibers are two popular wound healing scaffold designs. In this article, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) loaded poly(caprolactone)/gelatin/aloe vera nanofibers with hybrid and blend structures were successfully fabricated, and their effect on skin wound healing was compared. FTIR and water contact angle tests showed that both blend and hybrid nanofibers have similar chemical composition and hydrophilicity. Morphological studies using SEM illustrated that fibers in both samples were entirely uniform; however, the diameter of the hybrid nanofibers was approximately 50% smaller than that of the blend fibers. Furthermore, the hybrid's tensile strength and elongation at break were significantly higher than the blend's, indicating better mechanical performance. In vitro investigations revealed that the hybrid sample possessed enhanced antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) as well as greater biocompatibility. A mathematical model was used to simulate TCH release behavior from nanofiber scaffolds. Examination of wound healing on an animal model revealed that the PCL/Gel nanofiber performed similarly to the commercial sample. Moreover, incorporating Aloe vera and TCH into the nanofiber structure improved the wound healing process.