MUP-PCL-TEO-PVA Bilayer Nanofiber Scaffold Incorporated with Mupirocin and Thyme Essential Oil for Synergistic Activity Against Bacterial Wound Infections.

Electrospinning process was used for constructing the bilayer nanofibers scaffold using drug and oil containing polymeric emulsion for synergistic activity against bacterial wound infections. The characterization was done for morphology, chemical composition, thermal behaviour, porosity, swelling ratio, drug release, in vitro permeation, ex vivo studies, and antimicrobial activity. In vitro drug permeation study, exhibited initial rapid release of MUP upto 53% in the first 6 hrs and following a slower sustained release achieving 92.17% drug release in 72 hours whereas TEO showed release in 10 hrs with initial burst release followed by sustained release achieving 85.45% release. The ex vivo skin permeation data revealed greater permeability compared to conventional films. Antibacterial activity of the bilayer nanofiber scaffold was found to be greater than that of single layer MUP and TEO scaffold as zone of inhibition of MUP-PCL-TEO-PVA bilayer scaffold was greater which indicates the synergistic activity of MUP and TEO.