pH-sensitive core-shell electrospun nanofibers based on polyvinyl alcohol/polycaprolactone as a potential drug delivery system for the chemotherapy against cervical cancer

Drug-Eluting and Antibacterial Core-Shell Polycaprolactone/Pectin Nanofibers Containing Ti3C2Tx MXene and Medical Herbs for Wound Dressings

Fibrous scaffolds capable of delivering natural drugs and herbs show great promise for tissue regeneration and wound care, particularly in personalized medicine. This study presents the fabrication and characterization of drug-eluting antibacterial core-shell mats composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and pectin nanofibers produced through coaxial electrospinning. Berberine chloride (BBR), an herbal compound with antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antilipidemic, and antidiabetic properties, served as the model drug. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was blended with pectin to enhance the mechanical properties of the core fibers. The shell was modified with two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx (MXene) nanosheets and subjected to covalent and ionic cross-linking. Structural analysis confirmed the successful production of bead-free fibers with diameters ranging from 160 to 350 nm, depending on composition. The PCL core fibers were uniformly coated with a pectin/PVA shell approximately 90 nm thick. The inclusion of BBR and MXene increased the fiber diameter. Drug-release kinetics, modeled by using Korsmeyer-Peppas, revealed a two-stage release mechanism. An initial burst release occurred within the first 24 h (kinetic exponent n = 1.36), followed by sustained release over 2 weeks (n = 0.48). The release mechanisms were identified as case-II relaxational release in the first stage, transitioning to quasi-Fickian diffusion in the second. Incorporating MXene into the shell further prolonged drug release. The mechanical strength of the scaffolds improved significantly by a factor of 7 and 4 in wet and dry conditions, respectively. In vitro biocompatibility assays using L929 cells demonstrated excellent cell attachment and compatibility. Additionally, antibacterial tests against Escherichia coli showed that the inclusion of MXene enhanced antibacterial activity by 30%. These results suggest that the functional biocomposite scaffolds hold the potential for developing innovative, drug-eluting wound dressings.

Polymeric Nanostructures Revolutionizing Cervical Cancer: Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Theranostics

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. Despite recent advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics, this disease is still a formidable challenge to deal with. Conventional methods for detecting human papillomavirus infection and imaging the tissues face major hurdles due to a lack of signal specificity and obscured resolution respectively. Moreover, chemotherapeutics struggle against the development of multidrug resistance and rapid clearance. With their easily tunable properties, polymeric nanostructures present a promising avenue for rapid, specific, and efficient diagnostics and therapeutics. These nanostructures also serve as theranostic agents that integrate imaging modalities with therapeutic approaches concurrently. This review highlights various types of polymeric nanostructures that serve as biosensors for the detection and quantification of cervical cancer biomarkers and act as nanocarriers for transporting fluorophores, photosensitizers, drugs, and radiosensitizers to their target site of action.

Graphical Abstract

Wound Dressing with Electrospun Core-Shell Nanofibers: From Material Selection to Synthesis

Skin, the largest organ of the human body, accounts for protecting against external injuries and pathogens. Despite possessing inherent self-regeneration capabilities, the repair of skin lesions is a complex and time-consuming process yet vital to preserving its critical physiological functions. The dominant treatment involves the application of a dressing to protect the wound, mitigate the risk of infection, and decrease the likelihood of secondary injuries. Pursuing solutions for accelerating wound healing has resulted in groundbreaking advancements in materials science, from hydrogels and hydrocolloids to foams and micro-/nanofibers. Noting the convenience and flexibility in design, nanofibers merit a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, controlled release of therapeutics, mimicking of the extracellular matrix, and excellent mechanical properties. Core-shell nanofibers bring even further prospects to the realm of wound dressings upon separate compartments with independent functionality, adapted release profiles of bioactive agents, and better moisture management. In this review, we highlight core-shell nanofibers for wound dressing applications featuring a survey on common materials and synthesis methods. Our discussion embodies the wound healing process, optimal wound dressing characteristics, the current organic and inorganic material repertoire for multifunctional core-shell nanofibers, and common techniques to fabricate proper coaxial structures. We also provide an overview of antibacterial nanomaterials with an emphasis on their crystalline structures, properties, and functions. We conclude with an outlook for the potential offered by core-shell nanofibers toward a more advanced design for effective wound healing.

Co-axial electrosprayed RAD001-loaded polycaprolactone/polyvinyl alcohol core-shell particles for treating pediatric brain tumours

Core-shell particles composed of polycaprolactone/polyvinyl alcohol (PCL/PVA) with pH sensitive properties were successfully fabricated by co-axial electrospraying in which PVA and PCL formed the shell and core layers respectively. The core-shell structure was confirmed by FTIR, DSC and SEM analysis. No chemical interaction between PVA and PCL core-shell were observed in the FTIR analysis. The RAD001 loaded core-shell particles showed a sustained and pH dependent drug release and was assayed via our previously developed HPLC method. After indirect treatment of the PF-A cells with the core-shell particles for 24 h and 5 days a decrease in cell viability was observed. Additionally, a comparison was made with our previously developed nanoparticles containing 2 %PVA-14 %SOL®-0.6 % RAD001, for the cell viability study on ependymoma. Our findings show that optimised core-shell particles exerted a significant effect for the 24 h and 5 day treatment however further studies are required to ensure toxicity of the control core-shell particles with no drug is reduced. In comparison, the 2 %PVA-14 %SOL®-0.6 %RAD001 uniaxial electrosprayed nanoparticles also exerted a toxicity effect decreasing cell viability with no toxicity observed for the control nanoparticles as well. Such pH-sensitive core-shell particles, which can degrade effectively in either acidic or neutral condition, have great potential for application in the biomedical field.

Temozolomide nano-in-nanofiber delivery system with sustained release and enhanced cellular uptake by U87MG cells

OBJECTIVE

The study was aimed at formulating temozolomide (TMZ) loaded gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) encapsulated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers (TMZ-GNPs-PVA NFs) as the nano-in-nanofiber delivery system. The secondary objective was to explore the sustained releasing ability of this system and to assess its enhanced cellular uptake against U87MG glioma cells in vitro.

SIGNIFICANCE

Nano-in-nanofibers are the emerging drug delivery systems for treating a wide range of diseases including cancers as they overcome the challenges experienced by nanoparticles and nanofibers alone.

METHODS

The drug-loaded GNPs were formulated by one-step desolvation method. The Design of Experiments (DoE) was used to optimize nanoparticle size and entrapment efficiency. The optimized drug-loaded nanoparticles were then encapsulated within nanofibers using blend electrospinning technique. The U87MG glioma cells were used to investigate the uptake of the formulation.

RESULTS

A 32 factorial design was used to optimize the mean particle size (145.7 nm) and entrapment efficiency (87.6%) of the TMZ-loaded GNPs which were subsequently ingrained into PVA nanofibers by electrospinning technique. The delivery system achieved a sustained drug release for up to seven days (in vitro). The SEM results ensured that the expected nano-in-nanofiber delivery system was achieved. The uptake of TMZ-GNPs-PVA NFs by cells was increased by a factor of 1.964 compared to that of the pure drug.

CONCLUSION

The nano-in-nanofiber drug delivery system is a potentially useful therapeutic strategy for the management of glioblastoma multiforme.

Novel Drug Delivery Approaches for the Localized Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cancer type in females globally. Being an ailment of the birth canal, primitive treatment strategies, including surgery, radiation, or laser therapy, bring along the risk of infertility, neonate mortality, premature parturition, etc. Systemic chemotherapy led to systemic toxicity. Therefore, delivering a smaller cargo of therapeutics to the local site is more beneficial in terms of efficacy as well as safety. Due to the regeneration of cervicovaginal mucus, conventional dosage forms come with the limitations of leaking, the requirement of repeated administration, and compromised vaginal retention. Therefore, these days novel strategies are being investigated with the ability to combat the limitations of conventional formulations. Novel carriers can be engineered to manipulate bioadhesive properties and sustained release patterns can be obtained thus leading to the maintenance of actives at therapeutic level locally for a longer period. Other than the purpose of CC treatment, these delivery systems also have been designed as postoperative care where a certain dose of antitumor agent will be maintained in the cervix postsurgical removal of the tumor. Herein, the most explored localized delivery systems for the treatment of CC, namely, nanofibers, nanoparticles, in situ gel, liposome, and hydrogel, have been discussed in detail. These carriers have exceptional properties that have been further modified with the aid of a wide range of polymers in order to serve the required purpose of therapeutic effect, safety, and stability. Further, the safety of these delivery systems toward vital organs has also been discussed.

Effect of aromatic substituents on thermoresponsive functional polycaprolactone micellar carriers for doxorubicin delivery

Amphiphilic functional polycaprolactone (PCL) diblock copolymers are excellent candidates for micellar drug delivery. The functional groups on the backbone significantly affect the properties of PCL. A systematic investigation of the effect of aromatic substituents on the self-assembly of γ-functionalized PCLs and the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) is presented in this work. Three thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers with poly(γ-benzyloxy-ε-caprolactone) (PBnCL), poly(γ-phenyl- ε-caprolactone) (PPhCL), poly(γ-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-ε-caprolactone) (PEtOPhCL), respectively, as hydrophobic block and γ-tri(ethylene glycol) functionalized PCL (PME3CL) as hydrophilic block were prepared through ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The thermoresponsivity, thermodynamic stability, micelle size, morphology, DOX-loading, and release profile were determined. The LCST values of amphiphilic diblock copolymers PME3CL-b-PBnCL, PME3CL-b-PPhCL, and PME3CL-b-PEtOPhCL are 74.2°C, 43.3°C, and 37.3°C, respectively. All three copolymers formed spherical micelles in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 1×, pH = 7.4) at low concentrations ranging from 8.7 × 10-4 g/L to 8.9 × 10-4 g/L. PME3CL-b-PBnCL micelles showed the highest DOX loading capacity of 3.01 ± 0.18 (wt%) and the lowest drug release, while PME3CL-b-PEtOPhCL micelles exhibited the lowest DOX loading capacity of 1.95 ± 0.05 (wt%) and the highest drug release. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of all three micelles were assessed in vitro using MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. All three empty micelles did not show significant toxicity to the cells at concentrations high up to 0.5 mg/mL. All three DOX-loaded micelles were uptaken into the cells, and DOX was internalized into the nucleus of the cells.

Application of Electrospun Drug-Loaded Nanofibers in Cancer Therapy

In the 21st century, chemotherapy stands as a primary treatment method for prevalent diseases, yet drug resistance remains a pressing challenge. Utilizing electrospinning to support chemotherapy drugs offers sustained and controlled release methods in contrast to oral and implantable drug delivery modes, which enable localized treatment of distinct tumor types. Moreover, the core-sheath structure in electrospinning bears advantages in dual-drug loading: the core and sheath layers can carry different drugs, facilitating collaborative treatment to counter chemotherapy drug resistance. This approach minimizes patient discomfort associated with multiple-drug administration. Electrospun fibers not only transport drugs but can also integrate metal particles and targeted compounds, enabling combinations of chemotherapy with magnetic and heat therapies for comprehensive cancer treatment. This review delves into electrospinning preparation techniques and drug delivery methods tailored to various cancers, foreseeing their promising roles in cancer treatment.

Enhancing diabetic wound healing: advances in electrospun scaffolds from pathogenesis to therapeutic applications

Diabetic wounds are a significant subset of chronic wounds characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). They are also associated with impaired angiogenesis, persistent infection, and a high likelihood of hospitalization, leading to a substantial economic burden for patients. In severe cases, amputation or even mortality may occur. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common complication of diabetes, with up to 25% of diabetic patients being at risk of developing foot ulcers over their lifetime, and more than 70% ultimately requiring amputation. Electrospun scaffolds exhibit a structural similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM), promoting the adhesion, growth, and migration of fibroblasts, thereby facilitating the formation of new skin tissue at the wound site. The composition and size of electrospun scaffolds can be easily adjusted, enabling controlled drug release through fiber structure modifications. The porous nature of these scaffolds facilitates gas exchange and the absorption of wound exudate. Furthermore, the fiber surface can be readily modified to impart specific functionalities, making electrospinning nanofiber scaffolds highly promising for the treatment of diabetic wounds. This article provides a concise overview of the healing process in normal wounds and the pathological mechanisms underlying diabetic wounds, including complications such as diabetic foot ulcers. It also explores the advantages of electrospinning nanofiber scaffolds in diabetic wound treatment. Additionally, it summarizes findings from various studies on the use of different types of nanofiber scaffolds for diabetic wounds and reviews methods of drug loading onto nanofiber scaffolds. These advancements broaden the horizon for effectively treating diabetic wounds.

Electrospun Nanofibers: Shaping the Future of Controlled and Responsive Drug Delivery

Electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery systems (DDS) introduce a revolutionary means of administering pharmaceuticals, holding promise for both improved drug efficacy and reduced side effects. These biopolymer nanofiber membranes, distinguished by their high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, are ideally suited for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. One of their standout attributes is the capability to offer the controlled release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), allowing custom-tailored release profiles to address specific diseases and administration routes. Moreover, stimuli-responsive electrospun DDS can adapt to conditions at the drug target, enhancing the precision and selectivity of drug delivery. Such localized API delivery paves the way for superior therapeutic efficiency while diminishing the risk of side effects and systemic toxicity. Electrospun nanofibers can foster better patient compliance and enhanced clinical outcomes by amplifying the therapeutic efficiency of routinely prescribed medications. This review delves into the design principles and techniques central to achieving controlled API release using electrospun membranes. The advanced drug release mechanisms of electrospun DDS highlighted in this review illustrate their versatility and potential to improve the efficacy of medical treatments.

Wound healing performance of PVA/PCL based electrospun nanofiber incorporated green synthetized CuNPs and Quercus infectoria extracts

In this study, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthetized through green chemistry approach using C. officinalis flowers extract. The biosynthetized nanoparticles were characterized by FESEM, XRD, DLS and FTIR analysis. Subsequently, PCL nanofiber was fabricated as first supportive layer by electrospinning method. Afterward, PVA/Quercus infectoria galls (QLG) extracts/biosynthetized CuNPs blending solution was electrospinned as second bioactive topical layer. The morphology, physicochemical properties and biological characteristics of the produced PCL, PCL/PVA, PCL/PVA/CuNPs, PCL/PVA/QLG and PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs were investigated. Eventually, in vivo wound healing effectiveness was examined. Histologic investigation was carried out for visualization of the healing wounds architecture in different treated groups. FESEM, XRD and DLS assays confirmed the successful synthesis of CuNPs in range of 40-70 nm and FTIR spectrum approve the presence of functional constituents of C. officinalis extract on synthesized CuNPs. The incorporation of CuNPs and QLG extract into PCL/PVA based nanofibers improved their biological capabilities and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs illustrated significant wound healing potentials and excellent antibacterial function against at wounds infected with MRSA. Histological assay demonstrated complete wound healing and less inflammation on day 10th. These outcomes recommended the utilization of PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs as a novel promising wound dressings with considerable antibacterial features.

Recent advances of polymer based nanosystems in cancer management

Cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Nanotechnology, particularly nanoparticle-based platforms, is at the leading edge of current cancer management research. Polymer-based nanosystems have piqued the interest of researchers owing to their many benefits over other conventional drug delivery systems. Polymers derived from both natural and synthetic sources have various biomedical applications due to unique qualities like porosity, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) have been approved by the USFDA and are being researched for drug delivery applications. They have been reported to be potential carriers for drug loading and are used in theranostic applications. In this review, we have primarily focused on the aforementioned polymers and their conjugates. In addition, the therapeutic and diagnostic implications of polymer-based nanosystems have been briefly reviewed. Furthermore, the safety of the developed polymeric formulations is crucial, and we have discussed their biocompatibility in detail. This article also discusses recent developments in block co-polymer-based nanosystems for cancer treatment. The review ends with the challenges of clinical translation of polymer-based nanosystems in drug delivery for cancer therapy.

Electrospun Fibers: Versatile Approaches for Controlled Release Applications

Electrospinning has been one of the most attractive methods of fiber fabrication in the last century. A lot of studies have been conducted, especially in tissue engineering and drug delivery using electrospun fibers. Loading many different drugs and bioactive agents on or within these fibers potentiates the efficacy of such systems; however, there are still no commercial products with this technology available in the market. Various methods have been developed to improve the mechanical and physicochemical behavior of structures toward more controllable delivery systems in terms of time, place, or quantity of release. In this study, most frequent methods used for the fabrication of controlled release electrospun fibers have been reviewed. Although there are a lot of achievements in the fabrication of controlled release fibers, there are still many challenges to be solved to reach a qualified, reproducible system applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.

Tuning the Drug Release from Antibacterial Polycaprolactone/Rifampicin-Based Core-Shell Electrospun Membranes: A Proof of Concept

The employment of coaxial fibers for guided tissue regeneration can be extremely advantageous since they allow the functionalization with bioactive compounds to be preserved and released with a long-term efficacy. Antibacterial coaxial membranes based on poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and rifampicin (Rif) were synthesized here, by analyzing the effects of loading the drug within the core or on the shell layer with respect to non-coaxial matrices. The membranes were, therefore, characterized for their surface properties in addition to analyzing drug release, antibacterial efficacy, and biocompatibility. The results showed that the lower drug surface density in coaxial fibers hinders the interaction with serum proteins, resulting in a hydrophobic behavior compared to non-coaxial mats. The air-plasma treatment increased their hydrophilicity, although it induced rifampicin degradation. Moreover, the substantially lower release of coaxial fibers influenced the antibacterial efficacy, tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Indeed, the coaxial matrices were inhibitory and bactericidal only against S. aureus, while the higher release from non-coaxial mats rendered them active even against E. coli. The biocompatibility of the released rifampicin was assessed too on murine fibroblasts, revealing no cytotoxic effects. Hence, the presented coaxial system should be further optimized to tune the drug release according to the antibacterial effectiveness.

Electrospun Nanofibers for Integrated Sensing, Storage, and Computing Applications

Electrospun nanofibers have become the most promising building blocks for future high-performance electronic devices because of the advantages of larger specific surface area, higher porosity, more flexibility, and stronger mechanical strength over conventional film-based materials. Moreover, along with the properties of ease of fabrication and cost-effectiveness, a broad range of applications based on nanomaterials by electrospinning have sprung up. In this review, we aim to summarize basic principles, influence factors, and advanced methods of electrospinning to produce hundreds of nanofibers with different structures and arrangements. In addition, electrospun nanofiber based electronics composed of both two-terminal and three-terminal devices and their practical applications are discussed in the fields of sensing, storage, and computing, which give rise to the further integration to realize a comprehensive and brain-like system. Last but not least, the emulation of biological synapses through artificial synaptic transistors and additionally optoelectronics in recent years are included as an important step toward the construction of large-scale, multifunctional systems.

Advancement of Nanofibrous Mats and Common Useful Drug Delivery Applications

Electrospinning enables simple and cost-effective production of polymer nanofibers from different polymer materials. Drug delivery systems are capable of achieving maximum drug treatment benefits by significantly reducing adverse complications. Electrospun nanofibers have recently attracted considerable attention owing to their distinctive properties, including flexibility and biocompatibility. The implementation of functional constituents within nanostructure fibers blends is an effective technique for the administration of a variety of drugs in animal research, broadening the nanofiber capability and reliability. The nanofibrous mesh and its various application purposes are discussed in terms of a summary of recent research, emphasizing the ease of streaming and a large number of combinations of this approach, which could lead to a breakthrough in targeted therapy.

Drug Delivery Applications of Coaxial Electrospun Nanofibres in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the most serious health problems and the second leading cause of death worldwide, and with an ageing and growing population, problems related to cancer will continue. In the battle against cancer, many therapies and anticancer drugs have been developed. Chemotherapy and relevant drugs are widely used in clinical practice; however, their applications are always accompanied by severe side effects. In recent years, the drug delivery system has been improved by nanotechnology to reduce the adverse effects of the delivered drugs. Among the different candidates, core-sheath nanofibres prepared by coaxial electrospinning are outstanding due to their unique properties, including their large surface area, high encapsulation efficiency, good mechanical property, multidrug loading capacity, and ability to govern drug release kinetics. Therefore, encapsulating drugs in coaxial electrospun nanofibres is a desirable method for controlled and sustained drug release. This review summarises the drug delivery applications of coaxial electrospun nanofibres with different structures and drugs for various cancer treatments.

Experimental insights into catalytic oxidation of 1,6-hexanediol to ε-caprolactone over (p-cymene)RuCl2(L) complexes in non-polar media

The activity-pocket site dimension (θc) dependence of (p-cymene)RuCl2(L) supports associative interchange mechanism for 1,6-hexandiol oxidation to ε-caprolactone. Methyl isobutyl carbinol, a H-accepting product, reacts with Ru, causing deactivation.

Cefixime-Containing Silica Nanoseeds Coated by a Hybrid PVA-Gold Network with a Cys-Arg Dipeptide Conjugation: Enhanced Antimicrobial and Drug Release Properties

Therapeutic nano-bioconjugates (TNBCs) as an advanced class of drug delivery systems have attracted much attention due to more efficacy than the individual medications. Hence, in this study, a novel anti-infection TNBC system is designed based on highly porous silica nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and hybridized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the efficient delivery of cefixime (CFM). Furthermore, a conjugation of cysteine-arginine (CR) dipeptide is made onto the surfaces for the enhancement of cell adhesion. Concisely, the AuNPs incorporated inside the PVA network play the key role in the controlled release process triggered by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) heating. The drug content of the CFM-containing cargo (named as CFM@SiO₂/PVA/Au-CR) and related release profile have been precisely studied by the confirmed analytical methods. Eventually, confocal microscopy on the stained cells has revealed that the TNBC particles are capable of entering the Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) bacterial cells better than the individual CFM. Also, optical density experiments (OD₆₀₀) have corroborated that the prepared CFM@SiO₂/PVA/Au-CR TNBC includes a high antimicrobial effect on K. pneumoniae and E. coli cells with (93.0 ± 1.5) % and (86.8 ± 1.0) % success rates, respectively, whereas the same dosage of the individual CFM has shown a lower effect on the cell growth rate. Also, estimation of minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC) confirmed the enhanced antibacterial property of the CFM through the presented delivery method. Overall, this product is suggested to be clinically administrated instead of the individual CFM due to its high efficacy and containing lower dosage of the antibiotic drug.

Preliminary Characterization of a Polycaprolactone-SurgihoneyRO Electrospun Mesh for Skin Tissue Engineering

Skin is a hierarchical and multi-cellular organ exposed to the external environment with a key protective and regulatory role. Wounds caused by disease and trauma can lead to a loss of function, which can be debilitating and even cause death. Accelerating the natural skin healing process and minimizing the risk of infection is a clinical challenge. Electrospinning is a key technology in the development of wound dressings and skin substitutes as it enables extracellular matrix-mimicking fibrous structures and delivery of bioactive materials. Honey is a promising biomaterial for use in skin tissue engineering applications and has antimicrobial properties and potential tissue regenerative properties. This preliminary study investigates a solution electrospun composite nanofibrous mesh based on polycaprolactone and a medical grade honey, SurgihoneyRO. The processing conditions were optimized and assessed by scanning electron microscopy to fabricate meshes with uniform fiber diameters and minimal presence of beads. The chemistry of the composite meshes was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photon spectroscopy showing incorporation of honey into the polymer matrix. Meshes incorporating honey had lower mechanical properties due to lower polymer content but were more hydrophilic, resulting in an increase in swelling and an accelerated degradation profile. The biocompatibility of the meshes was assessed using human dermal fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells, which showed comparable or higher cell metabolic activity and viability for SurgihoneyRO-containing meshes compared to polycaprolactone only meshes. The meshes showed no antibacterial properties in a disk diffusion test due to a lack of hydrogen peroxide production and release. The developed polycaprolactone-honey nanofibrous meshes have potential for use in skin applications.

Development, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of adhesive fibrous mat for mucosal propranolol delivery

This research focuses on the synthesis and adhesive properties of mucoadhesive mats, prepared with poly(vinylic alcohol) as a base polymer for the oromucosal release of propranolol (PRO) by the electrospinning technique. The nanofibers mats were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry; in vitro drug entrapment efficiency, degradation time, and adhesion studies were performed. SEM images of the electrospun mats show the correct formation of fibers with a variable diameter and porosity. Thermal studies indicate excellent thermal stability of the scaffolds, The fibrous mats loaded with 10% of the drug exhibit the best thermal stability with decomposition after 450°C. In vitro studies indicate a drug content of 88% loaded in the mats. In the cytotoxicity test, loaded mat presents cell proliferations of 97% and 88% for drug concentrations of 10% an 15%, respectively. To conclude, the formed electrospun adhesive mats exhibited excellent thermal stability, adhesive properties, and drug entrapment efficiency, promising features for a successful drug topical release system on mucosal tissue in the oral cavity.

Recent advances in polymer scaffolds for biomedical applications

The review provides insights into current advancements in electrospinning-assisted manufacturing for optimally designing biomedical devices for their prospective applications in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, sensing, and enzyme immobilization, and others. Further, the evolution of electrospinning-based hybrid biomedical devices using a combined approach of 3 D printing and/or film casting/molding, to design dimensionally stable membranes/micro-nanofibrous assemblies/patches/porous surfaces, etc. is reported. The influence of various electrospinning parameters, polymeric material, testing environment, and other allied factors on the morphological and physico-mechanical properties of electrospun (nano-/micro-fibrous) mats (EMs) and fibrous assemblies have been compiled and critically discussed. The spectrum of operational research and statistical approaches that are now being adopted for efficient optimization of electrospinning process parameters so as to obtain the desired response (physical and structural attributes) has prospectively been looked into. Further, the present review summarizes some current limitations and future perspectives for modeling architecturally novel hybrid 3 D/selectively textured structural assemblies, such as biocompatible, non-toxic, and bioresorbable mats/scaffolds/membranes/patches with apt mechanical stability, as biological substrates for various regenerative and non-regenerative therapeutic devices.

Electrospun Medicated Nanofibers for Wound Healing: Review

With the increasing demand for wound care and treatment worldwide, traditional dressings have been unable to meet the needs of the existing market due to their limited antibacterial properties and other defects. Electrospinning technology has attracted more and more researchers' attention as a simple and versatile manufacturing method. The electrospun nanofiber membrane has a unique structure and biological function similar to the extracellular matrix (ECM), and is considered an advanced wound dressing. They have significant potential in encapsulating and delivering active substances that promote wound healing. This article first discusses the common types of wound dressing, and then summarizes the development of electrospun fiber preparation technology. Finally, the polymers and common biologically active substances used in electrospinning wound dressings are summarized, and portable electrospinning equipment is also discussed. Additionally, future research needs are put forward.

Milestones and current achievements in development of multifunctional bioscaffolds for medical application

Tissue engineering (TE) is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field, which aims to restore or improve lost tissue function. Despite that TE was introduced more than 20 years ago, innovative and more sophisticated trends and technologies point to new challenges and development. Current challenges involve the demand for multifunctional bioscaffolds which can stimulate tissue regrowth by biochemical curves, biomimetic patterns, active agents and proper cell types. For those purposes especially promising are carefully chosen primary cells or stem cells due to its high proliferative and differentiation potential. This review summarized a variety of recently reported advanced bioscaffolds which present new functions by combining polymers, nanomaterials, bioactive agents and cells depending on its desired application. In particular necessity of study biomaterial-cell interactions with in vitro cell culture models, and studies using animals with in vivo systems were discuss to permit the analysis of full material biocompatibility. Although these bioscaffolds have shown a significant therapeutic effect in nervous, cardiovascular and muscle, tissue engineering, there are still many remaining unsolved challenges for scaffolds improvement.

Electrospinning for drug delivery applications: A review

Drug delivery devices are promising tools in the pharmaceutical field, as they are able to maximize the therapeutic effects of the delivered drug while minimizing the undesired side effects. In the past years, electrospun nanofibers attracted rising attention due to their unique features, like biocompatibility and broad flexibility. Incorporation of active principles in nanofibrous meshes proved to be an efficient method for in situ delivery of a wide range of drugs, expanding the possibility and applicability of those devices. In this review, the principle of electrospinning and different fields of applications are treated to give an overview of the recent literature, underlining the easy tuning and endless combination of this technique, that in the future could be the new frontier of personalized medicine.

Critical roles of TLRs on the polarization of mesenchymal stem cells for cell therapy of viral infections: a notice for COVID-19 treatment

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as one of the leading cell-based therapy, have provided a strong link between clinical investigation and basic research. MSCs have been successfully employed in treating graft versus host disease (GvHD), autoimmune disease, and several other diseases, particularly with high immune activity. Recently, MSCs have attracted attention to treating untreatable viral infections such as severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Given that the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are directly able to detect internal and external hazard signals, and their stimulation has an intense effect on the ability to grow, differentiate, migrate, and maintain MSCs, it seems stimulation of these receptors can have a direct impact on the interaction of MSCs and immune cells, altering the ability to modify immune system responses. Hence, this mini-review focused on TLRs’ critical roles in the polarization of MSCs for developing MSC-based therapy in viral infections. Consequently, according to the literature review, a polarization process, mediated by TLRs concerning anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory phenotype, may be considered for MSC-therapy against viral infections.