Electrospun nanofibers based on polyvinylpyrrolidone/chitosan and cloxacillin: investigation of morphological features, antibiotic release and antimicrobial properties

Author(s)

Perea, Geraldine N. R. ; Pavinatto, Adriana ; Schneider, Rodrigo ; Munk, Michele ; Brandao, Humberto M. ; Correa, Daniel S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH; v. 30, n. 5, p. 9-pg., 2023-05-01.

Abstract

Polymer nanofibers possess a range of attractive features that make them highly suitable for various biomedical application, including their high surface area/volume ratio, mechanical flexibility, porosity and potential for surface or bulk functionalization. Besides, such nanofibers can be used to encapsulate antibiotics to fabricate slow-release systems, but in this case the nanofibers should be fabricated with biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. Here we developed a novel nanocarrier system based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/chitosan (CHI) electrospun nanofibers containing cloxacillin benzathine (CLO). PVP was chosen because of its ability to form nanofibers, while a small amount of chitosan was added to help control the CLO release, which antibiotic is widely employed to treat bacterial infections. The as-produced CLO-containing electrospun nanofibers were characterized regarding their morphological features and antibiotic release profile. SEM images revealed homogeneous and defects-free nanofibers, exhibiting no discernible morphological variations between the CLO-containing and CLO-non-containing nanofibers. FTIR results indicate hydrogen bonds formation between carboxyl and carboxylate groups from CLO and hydroxyl groups from CHI. The antimicrobial properties of antibiotic-loaded nanofibers were investigated against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus, yielding inhibition zone diameters of 12.5 +/- 1.6 mm and 29.8 +/- 1.3 mm for PVP/CHI/CLO and PVP/CLO nanofibers, respectively. Besides, the drug release kinetics study indicates that the nanocarrier system formed by PVP/CHI can release the antibiotics more slowly due to the chemical interactions between CHI and CLO compounds. Our results suggest that drug activity was preserved after encapsulation by electrospinning, and the difference in the inhibition zone diameter was corroborated by drug release mechanism experiments, indicating the system as a potential material to treat infections caused by S. aureus. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12174-4 - Development of hybrid polymer nanofibers for agricultural applications
• Grantee: Daniel Souza Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/18468-2 - Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) nanostructures syntheses methodologies and evaluation of their potential application in pollutants adsorption systems
• Grantee: Rodrigo Schneider
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate