Tolnaftate–graphene composite-loaded nanoengineered electrospun scaffolds as efficient therapeutic dressing material for regimen of dermatomycosis

Abstract

Graphene "The novel carbon nano-trope" tailors auspicious platform for designing antimicrobial regimen by virtue of its conspicuous molecular interaction with the microorganism. In this work, Tolnaftate (Tf), an antifungal drug, was mingled with Graphene nanoplatelets (Gn) to develop composite (Tf-Gn) via the wet chemical route, embedded in a biocompatible polymeric blend of Eudragit RL100/Eudragit RS100 (EuRL100/EuRS100) and subjected to electrospinning to obtain nonwoven nanoengineered scaffolds (nanofibers) for enhanced anti-dermatophytic virtue. Pursuing cluster of optimization experiments, 20% w/v EuRL100/EuRS 100 was found to be adequate for formation of smooth, defect-free, and regular fibers. Field emission electron microscopy (FESEM) acknowledged zestfully fabrication of smooth, shiny, nano-range, and mesh-like architecture, comprising distinct pockets within their structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) conceded formation of the composite Tf-Gn, its physical compatibility with polymers, and improved thermal behavior. Exceptional swelling capacity, significant hydrophilicity, and immense drug entrapment efficiency were obtained of nanofibers fabricated from 3:1 ratio of EuRL100/EuRS100 polymers blend owing to relatively higher permeability which gratified essential benchmark for fabrication of nanofibrous scaffold to alleviate fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. In vitro drug release interpreted controlled liberation of Tf in dissolution media, following Korsmeyer-Peppas model kinetics, and suggested a diffusion-based mechanism. Microdilution broth method was performed for in vitro antifungal efficacy against extremely devastating dermatophytes, i.e., anthropophilic Trichophyton rubrum and zoophilic Microsporum canis, exhibited preeminent growth inhibition against T.rubrum and scanty for M.canis. Findings revealed the superior antifungal activity of Tf-Gn-loaded nanofibers as compared to Tf-loaded nanofibers and recommended potential dressing materials for an effective regimen of dermatomycosis.

Graphene Scaffolds: A Striking Approach to Combat Dermatophytosis

“…Next, this GN-loaded dispersion was loaded into a 10 mL plastic syringe of 15 mm diameter equipped with a sharp needle (set flow rate 0.3 mL/h) and connected with a 15 kV voltage supply (Gamma High Voltage Research, Inc., Ormond Beach, FL, USA). As the voltage was increased, the repulsive electrical force pulled the developed pendent drop into a conical Taylor Cone that reached the bras collector (80 mm diameter) assembled in E-spin machine (E-Spin, Nanotech, IIT, Kanpur, India) within nanoseconds as regular fibers/or scaffolds [ 36 , 37 ]. Thereafter, collected scaffolds were kept in a desiccator till further investigation and characterization.…”

Scaffolds in the microbial resistant era: Fabrication, materials, properties and tissue engineering applications

“…Misra et al. proposed a new approach combining the antifungal drug Tolnaftate (Tf) and graphene nanoplatelets, with polymethacrylate as a polymeric matrix, to prepare nanofibrous scaffolds for the treatment of topical infections [ 396 ]. They found superior antifungal activity of the Tf-graphene-loaded nanofibers as compared to Tf-nanofibers without graphene, demonstrating the efficacy of this strategy.…”

“…The scaffold showed effective antifungal behavior in an in vivo study (mouse model) as well as good biocompatibility [ 395 ], indicating a good potential for wound healing. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out on general-purpose antifungal scaffolds for tissue engineering using several cell lines such as MSCs [ 390 ], fibroblasts [ 360 , 393 ], human endothelial cells, human carcinoma cells [ 389 ] and human endothelial cells [ 394 ], although biocompatibility assays were not reported in several studies [ 384 , 385 , 387 , 388 , 391 , 396 , 398 ].…”

Nanopolymer: Overview, Innovation and Applications

“…drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering and wound dressing [68]. Tolnaftate and tolnaftate-graphene composite loaded polyacrylate nanofibers can be potential used as dressing materials/scaffolds for efficient care of dermatophytosis [69,70]. Ying et al [71] also studied the preparation of Straw Magnesium Cement (SMC) from rice straw, another bio-based isolation material.…”