Formation and Investigation of Electrospun PLA Materials with Propolis Extracts and Silver Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

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.

The Estimation of Blood Paramagnetic Center Changes during Burns Management with Biodegradable Propolis-Nanofiber Dressing

“…To obtain the nonwoven mat, 22 ml of the solution is dosed at a rate of 1.5 ml/h [ 26 ]. Nonwoven wound dressings containing propolis [ 4 ] have been made with an electrospinning method using poly(lactide-co-glycolide) containing: 85 mole-% of lactidyl and 15 mole-% of glycolidyl comonomer units (PLGA 85 : 15) [ 24 , 27 ]. A solution of propolis is introduced to the polymer solution and mixed until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.…”

Biodegradable Electrospun Nonwovens Releasing Propolis as a Promising Dressing Material for Burn Wound Treatment

“…The difference lies in the character of polymer that is used to make the nonwovens. Studies performed by Kim et al [36], Adomavičūtė et al [14] and Sutjarittangtham et al [37] proved that the type of polymers from which the dressing are made is of key importance in changing the release profile of the drug. Results of their studies also confirmed that propolis is released slower from the PLA and PU nonwoven than from polymers with greater hydrophobicity.…”

“…By using this technique, it is possible to control the pharmacokinetic processes in such a way as to obtain a prolonged action of the active ingredient within the wound healing. These types of dressings are characterized by a number of beneficial properties, such as a large surface area and porous structure, better gas exchange and more effective absorption of exudate, protection against infections and dehydration, as well as the ease of introducing the active substance [1][2][3][14][15][16].…”

“…As drug carrier polymers, poly(lactide) (PLA), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) are most commonly used [14,17]. A lot of research has shown that PLGA copolymer is a biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic and non-immunogenic material that can be used as a carrier for a controlled release of drugs [18,19].…”

“…Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic examination of different types of paramagnetic centers in the blood during healing of skin burned wounds revealed that innovative PLGA nonwoven dressings strongly influence the oxidative-antioxidative balance during the burn wound healing process [35]. In relation with the above, in many experiments on the production of polymer fibers by electrospinning, propolis is used as a therapeutic substance [14,32,36,37].…”