Electrospun PLA/PCL/MPs Nanofibrous Hybrid Composite Structures for Sustained Drug Release

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibrous hybrid composite structures were prepared by blending poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) solutions and then mixed with three different amounts (0.01, 0.1 and 1% wt/v) of iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles (MPs),carrying a therapeutic compound tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) with the potential use for medical applications. The material system was investigated to understand how constituents of hybrid composites influenced the surface morphology to control drug release. It has been found that fibre properties are strongly related to the viscosity and electrical conductivity of prepared solutions. The addition of MPs increased moderately the solution viscosities and produced quite uniform nanofibres. The fibre diameter decreased with increasing MP concentration due to significantly enhanced solution conductivity in presence of MPs. Crystallinity and Tg of PCL and Tc of PLA decreased when MPs were mixed with the polymer blend. TCH loading appears to result in decreasing nanofibre diameters and cause to decrease Tg and Tm values of PCL. TCH release was accelerated by adding MPs to the blended polymers.