Abstract:

Objective Chronic wounds are characterized by persistent bacterial infection and excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation, which impede the healing process. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/polycaprolactone (PLGA/PCL) electrospun membranes exhibit limited antibacterial efficacy despite demonstrating favorable dimensional stability and mechanical properties. This study addresses these limitations by fabricating a dual-functional fiber-based dressing with integrated antibacterial and antioxidant properties to promote chronic wound regeneration.

Method Curcumin-loaded PLGA/PCL fiber membranes (FM-Cur) with varying curcumin (Cur) mass concentrations were fabricated using electrospinning technology. The morphology and fiber diameter distribution were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Chemical constitution and crystallinity were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Thermal properties were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry. Surface wettability was determined through water contact angle measurements. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays, while antibacterial efficacy was tested using colony counting methods.

Results All FM-Cur samples exhibited well-defined fibrous morphologies with uniform diameter distributions. Hydrophilicity significantly increased with Cur loading, evidenced by water contact angle reduction from (134.0±0.5)° (FM) to (87.5±1.6)° (FM-10Cur). Quantitative analysis revealed that both absorbance and drug loading capacity (DLC) values in aqueous-organic solvent systems (PBS/ethanol) and pure ethanol increased proportionally with Cur content. Due to the inherent hydrophobicity of Cur, DLC and encapsulation efficiency values measured in PBS/ethanol systems were significantly lower than those in ethanol. Authentic drug loading parameters aligned closely with ethanol-based determinations, where FM-2.5Cur and FM-5Cur achieved encapsulation rate > 97%, confirming the fiber carrier's efficacy in enhancing Cur bioavailability while enabling sustained release, a critical feature for chronic wound management. The optimized FM-5Cur formulation demonstrated exceptional dual functionality, exhibiting over 90% antibacterial rate against S. aureus and over 80% DPPH radical scavenging capacity. This synergistic performance effectively mitigates persistent inflammation in chronic wounds, concurrently neutralizing bacterial infection and oxidative stress, thereby accelerating tissue regeneration processes.

Conclusion Electrospun PLGA/PCL/Cur membranes are established as dual-functional wound dressings through a single-step fabrication process. The membranes demonstrate clinically relevant antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, with encapsulation efficiency exceeding 97% ensuring optimal therapeutic delivery. Key performance metrics include over 90% antibacterial rate against S. aureus and over 80% DPPH scavenging capacity, directly addressing critical healing barriers in chronic wounds. Crucially, the fabrication method preserves structural integrity without compromising bioactivity. These results support clinical translation potential for diabetic ulcer and burn wound management, where concurrent infection and oxidative stress impede healing.

Key words: biomedical material, curcumin, electrospinning, antioxidant activity, antibacterial property, wound dressing, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polycaprolactone