Antibacterials loaded electrospun composite nanofibers: release profile and sustained antibacterial efficacy

Abstract

Synthetic polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/agar composite nanofibers were fabricated by introducing agar during the electrospinning process, and it was found that the nanofibers could be used for efficient, controlled drug release. Hydrophilic drugs such as ampicillin (AMC) were successfully encapsulated inside the agar, allowing the formation of uniform and smooth AMC/agar/PAN composite nanofibers. Cell viability assays showed that the as-prepared agar/PAN composite nanofibers had a good biocompatibility, and the antibacterial activity of the designed drug delivery system was investigated against Gram negative E. coli with a sustained release profile. The good biocompatibility and enhanced thermal properties—as well as the long-lasting antibacterial activity—of these agar/PAN composite nanofiber-containing drugs indicate their significant promise for a variety of potential medicinal applications. We believe that this approach could serve as a model technique in the fields of drug delivery and controlled release when considering the compatibility between polymers and drugs.