PCL Fibers Research Articles

Composite fibrous membrane comprising PLA and PCL fibers for biomedical application

Great effort has been devoted to investigating the biodegradable composite fibrous membranes (CFM) comprising polymer blends in single fiber via electrospinning. However, the fibrous membrane scaffolds consisting of two kinds of electrospun fibers were seldom presented for biomedical application. In this study, CFM composed of poly(lactic acid) and polycaprolactone fibers with different rations were fabricated via multi-spinnerets blended electrospinning. The morphological structures, composition, wetting behaviors and mechanical properties of as-prepared CFM were investigated. The CFM, mimicking native tissues with interconnected and porous surfaces, for biomedical application was comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that cells phenotypes did not change significantly on these CFM and did not present inflammatory responses. Cells could proliferate well on these scaffolds, suggesting their good biocompatibility. Thus, the as-prepared CFM could be designed to adapt different requirements in tissues engineering by changing fiber ratios according to polymer intrinsic properties, presenting their synergistic advanced features.

Structuring Nanofibers of SMEC Sheets: A New Approach to Control Self‐Folded Shape by Uniaxial Stretching

AbstractShape‐memory elastomer composite (SMEC) sheets, made of a honeycomb structured electrospun poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) fiber mat embedded in a silicone (PDMS) elastomer, fold on themselves upon uniaxial traction. The self‐folding of the composite sheet originates from a bi‐layered structure obtained by a simple one‐step impregnation process. Indeed, the impregnation of a structured PCL fiber mat by oily PDMS in a flat Teflon mold leads, after curing, to an asymmetric composite sheet made of one PDMS flat thin layer on the mold side and one rough PDMS/PCL composite layer on the other side due to specific affinities between the three polymers involved. The self‐folded shape of such structured single sheet obtained upon uniaxial stretching and stress release is controlled by the honeycomb pattern orientation versus stretching direction, by the pattern size and by the applied uniaxial stretching stress. High shape recovery and robust shape memory cycling are also demonstrated by dynamic mechanical analysis. This innovative process based on the mat structuration allows a straightforward one‐step fabrication of shape memory sheets, with a wide scope of tunable self‐folded curvatures exhibiting efficient temperature shape recovery.

Robust strategies to reduce burst and achieve tunable control over extended drug release from uniaxially electrospun composites

In this study, robust strategies were developed to prepare uniaxially electrospun composites that reduced initial burst and provided controlled release of budesonide (a clinically important corticosteroid) over an extended timeframe in vitro. First, poly(caprolactone) (PCL) meshes were shown to exhibit significant burst while poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) 85:15 (PLGA) meshes intrinsically promoted zero-order release over 28d. In-depth characterization of the architectural, physico-chemical and thermal properties revealed differences in gross morphological behavior, water uptake capacity, polymer Tg, and drug affinity to the matrix as factors governing release. Based on this mechanistic understanding of release from fast- and slow-releasing polymers, PCL and PLGA were next judiciously blended in a specific ratio i.e., 20PCL/80PLGA to achieve controlled first-order release over 28d at a faster rate than PLGA but without an initial burst. Interestingly, increasing the PCL content to 30% (i.e., a 30PCL/70PLGA blend) resulted in a sharp burst release. Since the release from the 30PCL/70PLGA blend depended on intrinsic system characteristics, a dual-spinneret co-electrospinning approach was employed to effectively decouple fiber properties and achieve precise drug distribution across independently integrated PCL and PLGA fibers. Consequently, the co-electrospun meshes — possessing identical polymer compositions and drug/polymer ratios as the 30PCL/70PLGA blend — exhibited no burst and resulted in predictable release characterized by 10d zero-order kinetics. Notably, neither the rationally guided blending nor the co-electrospinning strategy involved the use of cytotoxic cross-linkers, bioactivity-reducing excipients, delamination-prone barrier layers and complex set-ups. Based on the application, a rational choice of blend ratios or co-electrospinning parameters may be used to tune the rate of release from the composites.

Electro spinning of Polycaprolactone / Hydroxyapatite Composites in Wound Dressing Application

Polycaprolactone polymer is widely used in medical applications due to its biocompatibility. Electro spinning was used to create poly (ε- caprolactone) (PCL) nanocomposite fiber mats containing hydroxyapatite (HA) at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.4% wt. The chemical properties of the fabricated bio composite fibers were evaluated using FTIR and morphologically using field-emission scanning-electron microscopy (FESEM), Porosity, contact angle, as well as mechanical testing(Young Modulus and Tensile strength) of the nanofibers were also studied. The FTIR results showed that all the bonds appeared for the pure PCL fiber and the PCL/HA nano fibers. The FESEM nano fiber showed that the fiber diameter increased from 54.13 to 155.79 (nm) at the HA values from (0.05 % and 1%wt.). Porosity, wettability of (PCL/HA) composites has improved, and the contact angle has decreased from 103.59o to 85.57o for fibrous scaffolds. The inclusion of hydroxyapatite increased the tensile strength of nano fiber scaffolds, and the maximum tensile strength of 0.4% percent was about 0.127 MPa, with a lowering in elongation to 40%.

Silver nanowire loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocomposite fibers as electroactive scaffolds for skeletal muscle regeneration

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) due to trauma and tumor removal operations affects millions of people every year. Although skeletal muscle has a natural repair mechanism, it cannot provide self-healing above a critical level of VML. In this study, nanocomposite aligned fiber scaffolds as support materials were developed for volumetric skeletal muscle regeneration. For this purpose, silver nanowire (Ag NW) loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanocomposite fiber scaffolds (PCL-Ag NW) were prepared to mimic the aligned electroactive structure of skeletal muscle and provide topographic and conductive environment to modulate cellular behavior and orientation. A computer-aided rotational wet spinning (RWS) system was designed to produce high-yield fiber scaffolds. Nanocomposite fiber bundles with lengths of 50 cm were fabricated via this computer-aided RWS system. The morphological, chemical, thermal properties and biodegradation profiles of PCL and PCL-Ag NW nanocomposite fibers were characterized in detail. The proliferation behavior and morphology of C2C12 mouse myoblasts were investigated on PCL and PCL-Ag NW nanocomposite fibrous scaffolds with and without electrical stimulation. Significantly enhanced cell proliferation was observed on PCL-Ag NW nanocomposite fibers compared to neat PCL fibers with electrical stimulations of 1.5 V, 3 V and without electrical stimulation.

A functionalized self-assembling peptide containing E7 and YIGSR sequences enhances neuronal differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells on aligned PCL fibers for spinal cord injury repair.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces neuronal death and disrupts the nerve fiber bundles, which leads to partial or complete sensorimotor function loss of the limbs. Transplantation of exogenous neurons derived from stem cells to the lesion site becomes a new neurorestorative strategy for SCI treatment. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) can attain pluripotency features by converting to embryonic stem-like cells in vitro. However, differentiating SSCs into lineage-specific neurons is quite difficult and low efficiency. Methods: Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, whole-cell patch clamp, and behavioral tests were performed to verify that self-assembled hydrogels could improve the directional differentiation efficiency of SSCs and the feasibility of SSC-derived neurons in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Results: We developed a novel self-assembled peptide Nap-FFGEPLQLKMCDPGYIGSR (Nap-E7-YIGSR) coated with aligned electrospun PCL fibers to enhance neuronal differentiation of SSCs. The Nap-E7-YIGSR peptide could evenly self-assemble on the surface of PCL fibers, enhanced the materials's hydrophilicity, and improved the SSC affinity of PCL fibers through the stem cell adhesion peptide sequence EPLQLKM domain. In addition, Nap-E7-YIGSR could effectively induce SSC neuron differentiation by activating the integrin β1/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, implanting the induced neurons derived from SSCs into SCI lesion sites in rats resulted in the formation of new relay circuits, myelination, and synapse formation. Furthermore, SSC-derived neurons could survive and function in the spinal cord injury microenvironment, boosting the recovery of locomotion. Conclusion: The combination of the multifunctional peptide and aligned fibers can potentially trigger SSC differentiation to neurons, facilitating neuronal replacement therapy and promoting functional recovery after SCI.

Melt electro-written scaffolds with box-architecture support orthogonally oriented collagen

Melt electro-writing (MEW) is a state-of-the-art technique that supports fabrication of 3D, precisely controlled and reproducible fiber structures. A standard MEW scaffold design is a box-structure, where a repeat layer of 90° boxes is produced from a single fiber. In 3D form (i.e. multiple layers), this structure has the potential to mimic orthogonal arrangements of collagen, as observed in the corneal stroma. In this study, we determined the response of human primary corneal stromal cells and their deposited fibrillar collagen (detected using a CNA35 probe) following six weeks in vitro culture on these box-structures made from poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL). Comparison was also made to glass substrates (topography-free) and electrospun PCL fibers (aligned topography). Cell orientation and collagen deposition were non-uniform on glass substrates. Electrospun scaffolds supported an excellent parallel arrangement of cells and deposited collagen to the underlying architecture of aligned fibers, but there was no evidence of bidirectional collagen. In contrast, MEW scaffolds encouraged the formation of a dense, interconnected cellular network and deposited fibrillar collagen layers with a distinct orthogonal-arrangement. Collagen fibrils were particularly dominant through the middle layers of the MEW scaffolds’ total thickness and closer examination revealed these fibrils to be concentrated within the pores’ central regions. With the demand for donor corneas far exceeding the supply—leaving many with visual impairment—the application of MEW as a potential technique to recreate the corneal stroma with spontaneous, bidirectional collagen organization warrants further study.

Fetal dermis inspired parallel PCL fibers layered PCL/COL/HA scaffold for dermal regeneration

Fetal-type dermal wound healing is amazingly quick and immaculate, mainly representing the absence of scarring as well as regeneration of dermal appendages. Here, the study reported a fetal dermis inspired architectural scaffold designing for scarless dermal regeneration. The scaffold composed of a two-compartment architecture with polycaprolactone/collagen/hyaluronic acid (PCL/COL/HA) porous scaffold down and oriented parallel PCL fibers membrane top was fabricated successively through porogen-leaching and electrospinning methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the scaffold had hierarchical structures, including an interconnected 3D porous structure down and an oriented parallel fibers network top. The PCL/COL/HA composite scaffold showed a porosity of 76.5% and a contact angle of 72.9 degree, demonstrating desirable hydrophilic properties and wettability. In vitro and in vivo data demonstrated the two-compartment architectural scaffold facilitated fibroblasts proliferation and showed no excessive inflammatory reaction, denoting good biocompatibility and a prospect of tissue engineering in vivo. The fetal dermis inspired architectural scaffold demonstrated here can be a desirable template for dermal regeneration.

Advanced Application of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Fibers for Seed Germination Activity

The increasing intensity of coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading emphasizes the significant development in home food production to reduce the incoming socioeconomic impact from soaring food prices, supply chain fragility, and severe economic crisis. This preliminary study was initiated to demonstrate the possibility of using electrospun fibers as a potential substrate in the application of seed germination activity. The drive of this preliminary study was to integrate the electrospun nanofiber-based material in exploring the current surge in home food production via seed germination in order to introduce cheap source of food without being distracted by the pandemic impact in general. Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) was chosen as it is easy and fast to sprout. Four samples of poly (ε-caprolactone)- (PCL-) based fibers were prepared by means of electrospinning technique, with the optimized flow rate between 0.05 and 0.20 ml/min at a fixed distance of 10 cm needle tip to collector. Mung bean seeds were allowed to germinate on the fabricated electrospun PCL fibers for 96 hours. Our observations include germination percentage, seedling weight, radicle length, and plumule growth. The highest radicle length and plumule length of seedlings were 27.8 mm and 6.7 mm, respectively. There were no inhibitory effects on seed germination and minimal structural fragmentation of smaller diameter electrospun fibers as revealed by FESEM. These results show that the seeds were able to germinate on electrospun PCL fiber substrate, owing to the properties of high surface area and excellent fluid water uptake of PCL fibers.

Controlling Pore Size of Electrospun Vascular Grafts by Electrospraying of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Microparticles.

Electrospinning has become a popular polymer processing technique for application in vascular tissue engineering due to its unique capability to fabricate porous vascular grafts with fibrous morphology closely mimicking the natural extracellular matrix (ECMs). However, the inherently small pore sizes of electrospun vascular grafts often inhibit cell infiltration and impede vascular regeneration. Here we describe an effective and controllable method to increase the pore size of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) vascular graft. With this method, composite grafts are prepared by turning on or off electrospraying of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) microparticles during the process of electrospinning PCL fibers. The PEO microparticles are used as a porogen agent and can be subsequently selectively removed to create a porogenic layer within the electrospun PCL grafts. Three types of porogenic PCL grafts were constructed using this method. The porogenic layer was either the inner layer, the middle one, or the outer one.

Controlling Topography and Crystallinity of Melt Electrowritten Poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) Fibers.

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an aspiring 3D printing technology with an unprecedented resolution among fiber-based printing technologies. It offers the ability to direct-write predefined designs utilizing a jet of molten polymer to fabricate constructs composed of fibers with diameters of only a few micrometers. These dimensions enable unique construct properties. Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), a semicrystalline polymer mainly used for biomedical and life science applications, is the most prominent material for MEW and exhibits excellent printing properties. Despite the wealth of melt electrowritten constructs that have been fabricated by MEW, a detailed investigation, especially regarding fiber analysis on a macro- and microlevel is still lacking. Hence, this study systematically examines the influence of process parameters such as spinneret diameter, feeding pressure, and collector velocity on the diameter and particularly the topography of PCL fibers and sheds light on how these parameters affect the mechanical properties and crystallinity. A correlation between the mechanical properties, crystallite size, and roughness of the deposited fiber, depending on the collector velocity and applied feeding pressure, is revealed. These findings are used to print constructs composed of fibers with different microtopography without affecting the fiber diameter and thus the macroscopic assembly of the printed constructs.

Nano Iron Oxide-PCL Composite as an Improved Soft Tissue Scaffold

Iron oxide nanoparticles were employed to fabricate a soft tissue scaffold with enhanced physicochemical and biological characteristics. Growth promotion effect of L-lysine coated magnetite (Lys@Fe3O4) nanoparticles on the liver cell lines was proved previously. So, in the current experiment these nanoparticles were employed to fabricate a soft tissue scaffold with growth promoting effect on the liver cells. Lys@Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation reaction. Resulted particles were ~7 nm in diameter and various concentrations (3, 5, and 10 wt%) of these nanoparticles were used to fabricate nanocomposite PCL fibers. Electrospinning technique was employed and physicochemical characteristics of the resulted nanofibers were evaluated. Electron micrographs and EDX-mapping analysis showed that nanoparticles were well dispersed in the PCL fibers and no bead structure were formed. As expected, incorporation of Lys@Fe3O4 to the PCL nanofibers resulted in a reduction in hydrophobicity of the scaffold. Nanocomposite scaffolds were shown increased tensile strength with increasing concentration of employed nanoparticles. In contrast to PCL scaffold, nearly 150% increase in the cell viability was observed after 3-days exposure to the nanocomposite scaffolds. This study indicates that incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles in the PCL fibers make them more prone to cell attachment. However, incorporated nanoparticles can provide the attached cells with valuable iron element and consequently promote the cells growth rate. Based on the results, magnetite enriched PCL nanofibers could be introduced as a scaffold to enhance the biological performance for liver tissue engineering purposes.

Near-field electrospinning polycaprolactone microfibers to mimic arteriole-capillary-venule structure.

The ability to create three-dimensional (3D) cell-incorporated constructs for tissue engineering has progressed tremendously. One of the major challenges that limit the clinical applications of tissue engineering is the inability to form sufficient vascularization of capillary vessels in the 3D constructs. The lack of a functional capillary network for supplying nutrients and oxygen leads to poor cell viability. This paper presents the near-field electrospinning (ES) technique to fabricate a branched microfiber structure that mimics the morphology of capillaries. Polycaprolactone solution was electrospun onto a sloped collector that resulted in morphological and geometric variation of the fibers. With proper control over the solution viscosity and the electrospinning voltage, a single fiber was scattered into a branched fiber network and then converged back to a single fiber on the collector. The obtained fibers have a diameter of less than 100microns at the two ends with coiled and branched fibers of less than 10 microns that mimics the arteriole-capillary-venule structure. The formation of such a structure in the near-field ES strongly depends on the solution viscosity. Low viscosity solutions form beads and discontinuous lines thus cannot be used to achieve the desired structure. The branching of PCL fiber occurs due to an electrohydrodynamic instability. The transition from the straight large fiber to smaller coiled/branched fibers is not instantaneous and stretches over a horizontal region of 1.5cm. The current work shows the feasibility of electrospinning the stem-branch-stem fibrous structure by adopting a valley-shaped collector with potentials for tissue engineering applications.

Hollow‐Fiber Melt Electrowriting Using a 3D‐Printed Coaxial Nozzle

Herein, a 3D‐printed nozzle designed for the single‐step fabrication of melt electrowritten hollow fibers is introduced. To achieve this, selective laser melting (SLM) is used to fabricate the outer part of the coaxial nozzle (800 μm inner diameter) from Ti6Al4V, into which a conventional nozzle (250 μm inner diameter) is inserted. Several iterations of coaxial nozzle design result in a well‐aligned inner core nozzle that delivers air into the Taylor cone of medical‐grade poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). Air from this bubble forms the hollow part of the fiber while the PCL shell solidifies as the shell. The smallest PCL fibers have an approximate outside diameter of 10 μm and a lumen of 6 μm, making this a promising one‐step technique for small diameter hollow fiber fabrication.

Polymer (PCL) fibers with Zn‐doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for tissue regeneration

AbstractComposite fibrous membranes based on poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) were fabricated by electrospinning. MBGNs and Zn‐doped MBGNs prepared by microemulsion sol–gel method were successfully incorporated inside the polymeric fibers of 240 and 385 nm in diameter for undoped and Zn‐doped PCL_MBGNs fibers, respectively. Thermal analysis showed that the concentration of MBGNs reached a maximum of around 21 wt% for Zn‐doped MBGNs. Both PCL_MBGNs and PCL_MBGNs_Zn composite membrane exhibited bioactivity after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the evolution of composite membranes, confirming the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp). However, the degradation products of membranes did not affect the viability and proliferation of murine stromal cells (ST‐2) and thus the new fiber structures represent a suitable environment for cell adhesion. Therefore, the incorporation of mesoporous glass nanoparticles doped with therapeutically active Zn2+ ions inside the PCL fibers offers the possibility to create a multifunctional biomaterial suitable for drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Co-electrospinning polycaprolactone/gelatin membrane as a tunable drug delivery system for bone tissue regeneration

The rising popularity of co-electrospinning technique in the field of biomaterial has enabled the possibility of combining various polymers, in which they provide the mechanical properties and the bioactivity for each other. Herein, a series of polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/Gel) composite membranes were prepared by co-electrospinning, and their biocompatibility and drug-controlled release ability were evaluated in detail for the first time. The addition of Gel significantly enhanced the adhesion and differentiation of osteoblasts, while the addition of PCL significantly improved the mechanical properties. Moreover, the in vitro degradation and drug release results showed that by adjust the PCL fibers amount and size, the degradation of Gel and the release profile of hydrophilic drugs/proteins could be effectively controlled: in the low PCL groups (PCL/Gel-1 & PCL/Gel-4), the Gel nano-fibers dissolved rapidly, resulting in an early explosive release within 1 week; however, with the increase of PCL content, the drug release rate decreased gradually, and the total release period could be extended to over 2 weeks (PCL/Gel-2, PCL/Gel-3 & PCL/Gel-5) or more (PCL/Gel-6). Therefore, the preparation of a controllable drug delivery system with good biological activity by co-electrospinning of PCL and Gel could provide an effective strategy for bone regeneration.

Electrostatic Flocking of Insulative and Biodegradable Polymer Microfibers for Biomedical Applications.

Electrostatic flocking, a textile engineering technique, uses Coulombic driving forces to propel conductive microfibers toward an adhesive-coated substrate, leaving a forest of aligned fibers. Though an easy way to induce anisotropy along a surface, this technique is limited to microfibers capable of accumulating charge. This study reports a novel method, utilizing principles from the percolation theory to make electrically insulative polymeric microfibers flockable. A variety of well-mixed, conductive materials are added to multiple insulative and biodegradable polymer microfibers during wet spinning, which enables nearly all types of polymer microfibers to accumulate sufficient charges required for flocking. Biphasic, biodegradable scaffolds are fabricated by flocking silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-filled poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibers onto substrates made from 3D printing, electrospinning, and thin-film casting. The incorporation of AgNP into PCL fibers and use of chitosan-based adhesive enables antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The fabricated scaffolds demonstrate both favorable in vitro cell response and new tissue formation after subcutaneous implantation in rats, as evident by newly formed blood vessels and infiltrated cells. This technology opens the door for using previously unflockable polymer microfibers as surface modifiers or standalone structures in various engineering fields.

Coaxial electrospun membranes of poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) with reverse core‐shell structures loaded with curcumin as tunable drug delivery systems

AbstractNano fibrous membranes core‐shell of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), encapsulating 1 wt% of curcumin, are fabricated by coaxial electrospinning technique. Morphology and physical properties, as well as the release of curcumin, are studied and compared with neat PLA and PCL individually spinned. Morphological analysis shows for all the samples the obtainment of fiber oriented in random way, without defect and with a narrow distribution of the fiber dimensions (344 nm for PCL fibers and 450 nm for PLA fibers). Mechanical performances and barrier properties are evaluated on all membranes and found to be dependent on the fibers' composition and morphology. Water contact angle for all membranes is found higher than 90° (from 103° for PLA‐Curc to 128° for PCL‐Curc), expected since the hydrophobic behavior of the micro/nano electrospun morphology. The curcumin release from the coaxial fibers, modeled with a modified Weibull equation, shows the possibility of a fine tuning of drug release (up to 15 days) for the produced materials, depending on the required application.

Alleviating the toxicity concerns of antibacterial cinnamon-polycaprolactone biomaterials for healthcare-related biomedical applications.

Fibrous constructs with incorporated cinnamon‐extract have previously been shown to have potent antifungal abilities. The question remains to whether these constructs are useful in the prevention of bacterial infections in fiber form and what the antimicrobial effects means in terms of toxicity to the native physiological cells. In this work, cinnamon extract containing poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) fibers were successfully manufactured by pressurized gyration and had an average size of ∼2 μm. Cinnamon extract containing PCL fibers were tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis bacterial species to assess their antibacterial capacity; it was found that these fibers were able to reduce viable cell numbers of the bacterial species up to two orders of magnitude lower than the control group. The results of the antibacterial tests were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The constructs were also tested under indirect MTT tests where they showed little to no toxicity, similar to the control groups. Additionally, cell viability fluorescent imaging displayed no significant toxicity issues with the fibers, even at their highest tested concentration. Here we present a viable method for the production the non‐toxic and naturally abundant cinnamon extracted fibers for numerous biomedical applications.

Electrospun fibers for vaginal administration of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine in the context of topical pre-exposure prophylaxis

Women are particularly vulnerable to sexual HIV-1 transmission. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is highly effective in avoiding new infections in men, but protection has only been shown to be moderate in women. Such differences have been associated, at least partially, to poor drug penetration of the lower female genital tract and the need for strict adherence to continuous daily oral intake of TDF/FTC. On-demand topical microbicide products could help circumvent these limitations. We developed electrospun fibers based on polycaprolactone (PCL fibers) or liposomes associated to poly(vinyl alcohol) (liposomes-in-PVA fibers) for the vaginal co-delivery of TDF and FTC, and assessed their pharmacokinetics in mice. PCL fibers and liposomes-in-PVA fibers were tested for morphological and physicochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry. Fibers featured organoleptic and mechanical properties compatible with their suitable handling and vaginal administration. Fluorescent quenching of mucin in vitro – used as a proxy for mucoadhesion – was intense for PCL fibers, but mild for liposomes-in-PVA fibers. Both fibers were shown safe in vitro and able to rapidly release drug content (15–30 min) under sink conditions. Liposomes-in-PVA fibers allowed increasing genital drug concentrations after a single intravaginal administration when compared to continuous daily treatment for five days with 25-times higher oral doses. For instance, the levels of tenofovir and FTC in vaginal lavage were around 4- and 29-fold higher, respectively. PCL fibers were also superior to oral treatment, although to a minor extent (approximately 2-fold higher drug concentrations in lavage). Vaginal tissue drug levels were generally low for all treatments, while systemic drug exposure was negligible in the case of fibers. These data suggest that proposed fibers may provide an interesting alternative or an ancillary option to oral PrEP in women.