An electrospun hydrophilic non-water-soluble biocompatible polylactic acid (PLA) nonwoven material was used as a delivery system for propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that are known for their established antiseptic and antimicrobial activity. Combination of PEE and AgNPs in a single product should provide efficient antimicrobial protection and improved wound healing. Evaluations of PEE and AgNPs on morphology of electrospun materials, release kinetics of AgNPs and phenolic compounds, antibacterial properties, and cytotoxicity of electrospun PLA materials were performed. The presence of PEE or/and AgNPs resulted in denser mats formed by thicker PLA fibers. The average diameter of PLA microfibers was 168±29 nm. The average diameter of microfibers increased to 318 ± 40 and 370 ± 30 nm when 10 wt% and 20 wt% ethanol were added, respectively. Addition of 10 wt% or 20 wt% PEE increased the diameter to 282 ± 25 and 371 ± 25 nm, respectively. Suspension of AgNPs also caused the formation of thicker microfibers with 254±25 nm diameter. Electrospun PLA microfibers with PEE maintained viability of HaCaT cells. Testing of antimicrobial activity confirmed the ability of AgNPs containing PLA electrospun materials to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

No abstract

No abstract

Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of propolis and its ability to stimulate the immune system and promote wound healing make it a proper component for wound dressing materials. Silver nanoparticles are recognized to demonstrate strong antiseptic and antimicrobial activity; thus, it also could be considered in the development of products for wound healing. Combining propolis and silver nanoparticles can result in improved characteristics of products designed for wound healing and care. The aim of this study was to formulate electrospun fast dissolving mats for wound dressing containing propolis ethanolic extract and silver nanoparticles. Produced electrospun nano/microfiber mats were evaluated studying their structure, dissolution rate, release of propolis phenolic compounds and silver nanoparticles, and antimicrobial activity. Biopharmaceutical characterization of electrospun mats demonstrated fast release of propolis phenolic compounds and silver nanoparticles. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans strains confirmed the ability of electrospun mats to inhibit the growth of the tested microorganisms.

Electrospun mats from nano/micro-fibers with controlled porosity and pore shape may be ideal candidate for tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study three types of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) mats of 41 µm-66 µm thickness with different average nano/micro-fibers diameter of 100 nm-200 nm were deposited on spunbond polypropylene (PP) filaments by electrospinning process. Controlled density porosity in the electrospun mats was introduced by Yb:KGW femtosecond laser micromachining system. The influence of electrospun mat microstructure, the distance between the adjacent laser ablation points, the number of femtosecond laser pulses on quality and structure of the laser irradiated holes were investigated. It was demonstrated that the quality of irradiated holes depends on the structure of electrospun mats (diameter of nano/micro-fibers, thickness of mats) and femtosecond laser processing parameters. Varying the distance between points of laser irradiation as well as number of applied femtosecond laser pulses it is possible to fabricate electrospun mats with increased porosity having extra pores of 22 µm-36 μm in diameter.