The development and characterization of electrospun gelatin nanofibers containing indomethacin and curcumin for accelerated wound healing

Abstract

Nanofibers are frequently investigated to facilitate wound healing. In this study, gelatin nanofibers were produced that are biodegradable and biocompatible. Indomethacin and curcumin were added to the formulation to add antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties to the nanofibers. The nanofibers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cell viability, proliferation, tensile strength, content uniformity, antioxidant activity, drug release studies were investigated. DSC and FTIR analyses showed that indomethacin and curcumin were coated with the gelatin in the nanofibers. SEM studies demonstrated that smooth and homogeneous nanofibers were produced in the range 260–360 nm. Tensile strength values decreased with the addition of indomethacin and curcumin to the gelatin nanofiber, while the antioxidant activity results showed that the wound dressings can remove reactive oxygen species. There was no significant decrease in cell viability as a result of adding indomethacin and curcumin to the nanofibers. It was predicted that with a rapid release of indomethacin from the nanofibers, an analgesic effect will be obtained first and then an antioxidant effect will be seen from the long-term release of curcumin. Consequently, it was shown that the nanofibers produced can be used safely and effectively as an antioxidant wound dressing material.