In this study, we select naproxen (NAP) as a reference drug and electrospun poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers as a fibrous matrix for our drug-delivery system. NAP was complexed with beta-cyclodextrin (βCD) to form inclusion complex (NAP-βCD-IC) and then NAP-βCD-IC was incorporated into PCL nanofibers via electrospinning. The incorporation of NAP without CD-IC into electrospun PCL was also carried out for a comparative study. Our aim is to analyze the release profiles of NAP from PCL/NAP and PCL/NAP-βCD-IC nanofibers and we investigate the effect of CD-IC on the release behavior of NAP from the nanofibrous PCL matrix. The characterization of NAP-βCD-IC and the presence of CD-IC in PCL/NAP-βCD-IC nanofibers were studied by FTIR, XRD, TGA, NMR and SEM. The SEM imaging of the electrospun PCL/NAP and PCL/NAP-βCD-IC nanofibers reveal that the average fiber diameter of these nanofibers is around 300nm, in addition, the aggregates of CD-IC in PCL/NAP-βCD-IC nanofibers is observed. The release study of NAP in buffer solution elucidate that the PCL/NAP-βCD-IC nanofibers have higher release amount of NAP than the PCL/NAP nanofibers due to the solubility enhancement of NAP by CD-IC.

Incorporation of mammalian cells into nanofibers (cell electrospinning) and multilayered cell-nanofiber structures (cell layering) via electrospinning are promising techniques for tissue engineering applications. We investigate the viability of 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts after incorporation into poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers and multilayering with poly(caprolactone) nanofibers and analyze the possible factors that affect cell viability. We observe that cells do not survive cell electrospinning but survive cell layering. Assessing the factors involved in cell electrospinning, we find that dehydration and fiber stretching are the main causes of cell death. In cell layering, the choice of solvent is critical, as residual solvent in the electrospun fibers could be detrimental to the cells.

We investigate the immobilization of a model system of functionalized yeast that surface-display enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) within chemically crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. Yeast is incorporated into water insoluble nanofibrous materials by direct electrospinning with PVA followed by vapor phase chemical crosslinking of the polymer. Incorporation of yeast into the fibers is confirmed by elemental analysis and the viability is indicated by live/dead staining. Following electrospinning and crosslinking, we confirm that the yeast maintains its viability as well as the ability to express eGFP in the correct conformation. This method of processing functionalized yeast may thus be a powerful tool in the direct immobilization of properly folded, active enzymes within electrospun nanofibers with potential applications in biocatalysis.

This study examines the effects of CD use on enzymatic activity, following enzyme immobilization into nanofibers. There is almost no research available on the change in enzyme activity following interaction with cyclodextrin and electrospun nanofiber mats together. Laccase enzyme was immobilized into nanofibrous structures by various techniques, with and without γ-CD addition, and the enzymatic activity of the laccase was analyzed. SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses were used for the characterization of the resulting structures. Our results showed that cyclodextrin use has a positive effect on the enzyme's activity, and increases its stability. The enzymes treated by cyclodextrin showed activation after complex formation trials, and no activation loss or enzyme denaturation was detected. Our conclusions were supported by the enzyme activity test results, which also showed that immobilization by encapsulation methods gave better activity results than layering methods. Another important finding concerned the laccase's stable characteristics that helped to maintain its enzyme activation after the freeze drying process. Among all test groups, the best activity result was recorded by laccase-γ-CD complex encapsulated PCL nanofibers with 96.48 U/mg.