A Study on the Effect of Nanoscale MgO and Hydrogen Bonding in Nanofiber Mats for the Controlled Drug Release along with In Vitro Breast Cancer Cell Line and Antimicrobial Studies

Abstract

Nanosized metal oxide-incorporated drug carriers have received significant attention due to their biocompatibility, mechanical strength, controlled drug release, and biodegradability. Herein, an attempt was made to fabricate polycaprolactone-based electrospun nanofiber mats involving the 5-fluorouracil (5Fu) drug, MgO nanoparticle, methyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycol. The chemical interactions, surface wettability, mechanical properties, structural and morphological changes, and thermal stability were studied by the respective analyses. The ionic interaction between 5Fu, MgO, and polymers were found to be responsible for the controlled drug release. Zero-order kinetic and model data also revealed that a controlled drug release pattern was observed in a period of 16 days. Furthermore, the nanofiber mats were subjected to cytotoxicity studies against MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line and the results showed higher cytotoxicity in a short time of 24 h and less toxicity to normal L929 fibroblast cell line. The apoptosis in cancer cell lines was also tested by AO/PI staining assay and confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. In addition, the growth inhibition of several bacterial and fungal strains was tested for the mats and the results exhibited good inhibition activity. Hence, the reported nanofiber drug carrier was found to be an efficient implant for the controlled release of anticancer drug along with other significant properties.

Nanofibers Embedded with Nanoparticles as Carriers for the Controlled Release of Anticancer Drug: Promoting the Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cell Line and Growth Inhibition of Microbial Strains

“…Even though the PLA is hydrophobic, the addition of 5Fu contributed −NH groups and −CO of PLA was found to be responsible for swelling through hydrogen bonding with water molecules. However, the weak hydrogen bonding between the drug and polymer with water decreases the swelling capacity, along with the restriction of chain mobility and hydration of the polymer chain. , When Fe 3 O 4 was incorporated to the pristine NF, the nanofiber mat (Fe 3 O 4 –NF1) showed 40% of swelling capacity in day 1 and reached equilibrium with >130%. This increased swelling capacity is due to the nanoparticles, which creates an interspace between the PLA and 5Fu drug molecules, and, hence, the saline gets easy permeation into the nanofiber mat.…”

“…This may be due to the following reasons: (i) the MC and PEG were more hydrated in saline medium due to its more hydrophilicity; (ii) the hydrophilicity provided more elongation to the fiber with lesser diameter, compared to the other mats, which easily allowed a greater amount of saline medium; and (iii) the electrophilic nature of PLA chain (−CO group) attracted the higher electron density possessing MC and PEG (−OH groups) for the stronger interaction that leads to higher swelling. Furthermore, more polar groups such as −OH, NH, −C–O–C–, and CO were present in the nanofiber mats, which could make easy interaction with other water molecules through their lone pairs for higher swelling capacity. ,− Hence, the nanofiber mats showed extensive swelling capacity profiles, which would favor increased drug loading capacity, optimal release behavior, and faster degradation.…”

Development of new surgical mesh geometries with different mechanical properties using the design freedom of 3D printing

“…PCL was considered the ideal choice for MEW process because of its low melting temperature, fast solidification, low rate of degradation, and biocompatibility. Research in progress will combine the meshes geometries, printed with PCL, with natural polysaccharides, polymers and proteins to reduce its hydrophobicity 37 . Additionally, it is planned to perform experiments in vitro with the novel meshes to better understand the influence of the pore size and geometry of biodegradable meshes produced by MEW on host response.…”

Casting hydrophilic polymers blended polycaprolactone membranes for drug delivery to eradicate the cancer cells and pathogenic microorganisms

“…The controlled drug release by suitable polymers or nanocarriers would increase the therapeutic efficiency 3,4 . Nowadays, functional polymers with antimicrobial properties are specially designed as drug carriers to deliver the drugs as well as antimicrobial effect exhibited by the polymeric materials 5–7 …”

“…drugs as well as antimicrobial effect exhibited by the polymeric materials. [5][6][7] Numerous biodegradable polymers such as poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactide-coglycoside) (PLGA) and polyurethane (PU) are widely accepted materials for drug delivery applications. In addition, natural proteins have also been used including collagen, elastin and gelatin.…”