Polyhydroxybutyrate/poly(ε-caprolactone)-based electrospun membranes loaded with amoxicillin-potassium clavulanate halloysite nanotubes for biomedical applications

Biopolymers exhibit distinct properties for biomedical applications. Different biopolymer classes are utilized for various applications, for example antibacterial properties, drug delivery, tissue engineering, tissue scaffolds etc. In the present investigation, a nano-bioengineering approach was followed to prepare polyhydroxybutyrate and polycaprolactone polymer-based drug-loaded halloysite nanotube electrospun membranes for biomedical applications. Functionalized halloysite nanotubes ((3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane acid treated halloysite nanotubes) at different weight percentages (1, 3, 5 and 7 wt%) were loaded with a broad-spectrum antibiotic amoxicillin trihydrate-potassium clavulanate, incorporated into the electrospun membranes, and characterized by different techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM and TGA. Different physical and mechanical properties were evaluated, such as porosity, water uptake, water vapor transmission rate, wettability and tensile properties. The developed membranes exhibited good in vitro biological properties, for example antibacterial, effective cell migration and less toxicity, as confirmed by disk diffusion, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and cell scratch assays. A sustained drug release profile was observed from all the developed membranes. Overall results on the characterization of the developed membranes confirm the suitability of their use for different biomedical applications and as a wound dressing application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.