Preparation and structural analyses of antimicrobial core-shell chitosan-polycaprolactone nanofibers for controlled curcumin release

Abstract

Nanofibers have emerged as sought-after candidates for novel wound dressings because of their favorable drug delivery, moisture balance, and cellular interactions to cover and remedy injuries. Nevertheless, the precise control of therapeutic agents over the release kinetics has remained challenging. Herein, we investigate the preparation and release profile of curcumin as an anti-inflammatory medicine from core-shell nanofibers, seeking an enhanced skin wound dressing with drug-delivery properties. We design an encapsulated drug-metal complex within a coaxial scaffold based on chitosan, poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Our results indicate that the diameter of nanofibers changed by almost 18 % upon the addition of curcumin and ZnO nanoparticles, which is attributed to their effect on the viscosity of polymers. The in vitro degradation implies low decomposition over 1200 h due to an encapsulated, drug-loaded core with a hydrophobic PCL shell. Incorporating ZnO also yields a nearly twofold increase in antibacterial efficacy to nanofibers and decelerates their degradation rate, relying on the interaction and chemical stability of nanoparticles induced into the chitosan core. Entailed with six theoretical models, the in vitro drug release profile unveils a mild burst release of curcumin in the early phase of drug delivery. Hence, the antibacterial chitosan/PCL nanofibers loaded with curcumin have potential applications in wound care.