Dual controlled release nanomicelle-in-nanofiber system for long-term antibacterial medical dressings

Abstract

Long-term antibacterial medical dressings can prevent infection as skin wounds heal. In this study, we used the hydrophobic antibacterial drug amoxicillin as a model to prepare drug-loaded nanomicelles using a film dispersion–hydration method, and drug-loaded nanomicelles were coaxially electrospun into nanofiber to create a novel nanomicelle-in-nanofiber (NM-in-NF) drug delivery system. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of nanomicelles and nanofibers. Thermal property of as-prepared samples was tested using differential scanning calorimetry. The drug release behavior, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial properties of NM-in-NFs were examined in vitro to evaluate the system’s potential to be used in the treatment of skin wounds. Experimental results indicated that the novel NM-in-NF system had dual controlled release effect, which greatly reduced burst release and prolonged effective drug duration. Moreover, NM-in-NFs was also found to be safe and non-toxic, with a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. It thus could potentially be used in long-term antibacterial medical dressings to treat skin wounds.

Keywords:

• Nanomicelle
• electrospinning
• core/shell nanofibers
• controlled drug release
• medical dressing

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81472842, 81502560), the Foundation of Higher Education of Guangdong, China (No.2016KTSCX146), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (No.2018A0303130245) and the Special Funds for the Cultivation of Guangdong College Students’Scientific and Technological Innovation (“Climbing Program” Special Funds) (No.pdjha0508).