Polymeric microparticles with controlled morphologies and sizes are being studied by researchers in many applications, such as for drug release, healthcare and cosmetics. Herein, spherical and porous polymeric microparticles of different sizes and morphologies by electrospray technique have been developed as a viable alternative. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) microparticles with a spherical shape and porous morphology were successfully produced via an electrospray technique in a single step. Molecular interactions between the components and the effect of parameters, such as varying solvent compositions, flow rates and voltage on microparticle morphology, were investigated over the particle formation. It was observed that the type of solvents used is the most effective parameter in terms of particle morphology, size and distribution. When the optical microscopy and SEM images of the microparticles were examined, 3 wt.% PLA in dichloromethane (DCM) solution concentration with an applied voltage of 18 kV and a flow rate of 20 µL/min was found to be the optimum parameter combination to achieve the desired spherical and porous micron-size particles. The average diameter of the particles achieved was 3.01 ± 0.58 µm. DCM was found to be a more suitable solvent for obtaining microparticles compared to the other solvents used. Finally, particles that are obtained by electrospraying of PLA–DCM solution are porous and monodisperse. They might have excellent potential as a carrier of drugs to the targeted sides and can be used in different biomedical applications.
Corneal ulcer, which is brought on by a breach in the epithelial barrier, is a dangerous infection of the avascular corneal stroma. New treatment strategies are needed, suppressing the aggressive nature of the disease and including a combination of different drugs. In this study, vancomycin (VAN) and fluconazole (FLU) dual‐drug loaded dual‐layered polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin (PVA/GEL) nanofibrous patches are produced by electrospinning. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show smooth surfaces are obtained for both pure and drug‐loaded nanofibrous patches. The tensile test results report that loading the FLU and VAN separately into the PVA/GEL patches decrease both the tensile strength and elongation at break and it is further reduced when combining two drug‐loaded layers in one patch. According to drug release results, the FLU and VAN‐loaded nanofibrous patches show a controlled release profile extending up to 96 h. Moreover, PVA/GEL/FLU, PVA/GEL/VAN, and PVA/GEL/FLU/VAN nanofibrous patches display significant antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. SEM, 4'‐6diamidynofenyloindol (DAPI) staining, and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay show that PVA/FLU and PVA/GEL/FLU/VAN nanofibrous patches have a superior effect on NIH3T3 cell spreading and proliferation. The novelty of this study lays in the development of a potential dual drug rapid treatment for corneal ulcers of aggressive nature.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.