Tailoring electrospun polylactic acid nanofibers for sustained drug release and controlled delivery applications

IF 2.8 4区化学 Q3 POLYMER SCIENCE

Journal of Polymer Research Pub Date : 2025-08-15 DOI:10.1007/s10965-025-04521-x

Anshuman Gupta, Vishwanath Gholap, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The demand for sustainable drug delivery systems has driven research into biodegradable polymers with improved performance characteristics. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biocompatible and FDA-approved polymer, holds promise in biomedical applications but is limited by slow degradation rates and insufficient antimicrobial activity. This study develops electrospun PLA nanofibers infused with Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) essential oil to improve sustained drug release, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability. Physicochemical properties analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements revealed smooth morphology and increased hydrophobicity (88.4°). Drug release kinetics modeled using Korsmeyer-Peppas equations indicated a diffusion-controlled mechanism with R² value of 0.8022, enabling sustained release over 30 days. The nanofibers exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zones of 1.2 cm and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger with zones up to 1.0 cm. Degradation studies revealed accelerated biodegradation, with 81.4% weight loss in 30 days under simulated environmental conditions. These results showcase the multifunctional performance of Tulsi-infused PLA nanofibers, offering sustained drug release, antimicrobial activity, and eco-friendly degradation. This study highlights their potential for biomedical applications, such as wound dressings and antimicrobial coatings, while paving the way for advanced polymer systems and dual-drug delivery strategies.

Graphical Abstract

The graphical abstract depicts the synthesis of electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers functionalized with Tulsi essential oil. Starting from PLA pellets, the electrospinning process yields nanofibers with enhanced antimicrobial activity and sustained drug release properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the successful encapsulation of Germacrene D. These nanofibers demonstrate potential applications in wound dressings, antimicrobial coatings, and environmentally sustainable biomedical systems.

Abstract Image

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裁剪静电纺聚乳酸纳米纤维的持续药物释放和控制交付应用

对可持续药物输送系统的需求推动了对具有改进性能特征的可生物降解聚合物的研究。聚乳酸（PLA）是一种生物相容性和fda批准的聚合物，在生物医学应用中具有前景，但受降解速度慢和抗菌活性不足的限制。本研究开发了注入图尔西精油的静电纺丝聚乳酸纳米纤维，以改善药物的持续释放、抗菌活性和生物降解性。利用傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和接触角测量对其理化性质进行了分析，发现其形貌光滑，疏水性提高（88.4°）。利用Korsmeyer-Peppas方程建立的药物释放动力学模型表明，缓释机制为扩散控制，R²值为0.8022，缓释时间超过30天。纳米纤维对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌效果为1.2 cm，对黑曲霉的抑菌效果为1.0 cm。降解研究显示生物降解加速，在模拟环境条件下，30天内体重减轻81.4%。这些结果展示了图思注入PLA纳米纤维的多功能性能，具有持续的药物释放、抗菌活性和环保降解。这项研究强调了它们在生物医学应用方面的潜力，例如伤口敷料和抗菌涂层，同时为先进的聚合物系统和双药递送策略铺平了道路。图形摘要描述了以图尔丝精油为功能化剂的静电纺丝聚乳酸（PLA）纳米纤维的合成。从聚乳酸颗粒开始，静电纺丝工艺生产出具有增强抗菌活性和持续药物释放特性的纳米纤维。傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）证实了Germacrene d的成功封装，这些纳米纤维在伤口敷料、抗菌涂层和环境可持续生物医学系统中具有潜在的应用前景。

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来源期刊

Journal of Polymer Research 化学-高分子科学

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

7.10%

发文量

472

审稿时长

3.6 months

期刊介绍： Journal of Polymer Research provides a forum for the prompt publication of articles concerning the fundamental and applied research of polymers. Its great feature lies in the diversity of content which it encompasses, drawing together results from all aspects of polymer science and technology. As polymer research is rapidly growing around the globe, the aim of this journal is to establish itself as a significant information tool not only for the international polymer researchers in academia but also for those working in industry. The scope of the journal covers a wide range of the highly interdisciplinary field of polymer science and technology, including: polymer synthesis; polymer reactions; polymerization kinetics; polymer physics; morphology; structure-property relationships; polymer analysis and characterization; physical and mechanical properties; electrical and optical properties; polymer processing and rheology; application of polymers; supramolecular science of polymers; polymer composites.