Conventional drug delivery systems often lack the ability to specifically distribute therapeutic agents to target sites without affecting surrounding healthy tissues. This lack of specificity paired with other challenges, such as poor solubility and drug aggregation, can significantly hinder treatment efficacy. Electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers have shown promise as a therapeutic delivery system due to their drug-loading capacity and subsequent-controlled release via regulated biodegradation of the fibrous polymer matrix. In this study, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers were prepared at varying concentrations at 10%, 12%, and 15% w/w with the encapsulation of 1,4-dihydrophenonthrolin-4-one-3-carboxylic acid (1,4-DPCA). 1,4-DPCA inhibits the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha protein, a regulator of oxygen homeostasis, and activates regenerative wound healing in some <i>in vivo</i> models. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to obtain the drug-release profile of PCL microfibers loaded with 1,4-DPCA drug. Additionally, cell culture, mechanical testing, contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs analyses, of the PCL non-woven meshes, were utilized to test their biocompatibility, and determine their elasticity, wettability and morphological characteristics, respectively. The HPLC spectrograms revealed a controlled release of 1,4-DPCA over the course of several hours following an initial drug burst. The tensile strength of the PCL fibrous membrane demonstrates desirable mechanical properties, with loaded membranes exhibiting a high elasticity. Furthermore, hydrophobicity of PCL microfibers was used to extend the retention of the drug in the delivery system. Finally, SEM micrographs indicate random deposition of the electrospun fibers, and further analyses suggest a potential relationship between nanofiber diameter and polymer concentration. With an overall result showing a relationship between the diameter of the polymer fibers and the rate of drug released. Our findings establish that electrospun PCL microfibers are a promising candidate for future development towards a controlled drug delivery system.<br/>

Drug-loaded biodegradable scaffold for controlled release in regenerative medicine

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.