Hyperbranched polyglycerol electrospun nanofibers for wound dressing applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Wound dressings require advanced materials for effective healing and drug delivery.
• Hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPGL) nanofibers offer a promising platform for biomedical applications.
• Calendula officinalis is a natural agent with known wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize electrospun HPGL nanofibers incorporating Calendula officinalis.
• To evaluate the drug release kinetics and material properties of HPGL-C. officinalis nanofibers.
• To assess the potential of these nanofibers as bioactive wound dressing materials.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of HPGL nanofibers with Calendula officinalis.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for fiber morphology analysis.
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for drug release quantification.
• Swelling, mechanical, and biocompatibility tests.
• In vivo experiments in rats.

Main Results:

• HPGL-C. officinalis nanofibers exhibited nanoscale diameters.
• Rapid release of Calendula officinalis was observed due to high swelling and porosity.
• Water absorption slowed under physiological conditions, influenced by membrane-fluid interaction.
• Fiber elasticity increased with higher Calendula officinalis content.
• In vivo studies indicated potential as a bioactive wound dressing.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun HPGL-C. officinalis nanofibers demonstrate rapid drug release and tunable mechanical properties.
• The material's high swelling and porosity contribute to efficient Calendula officinalis delivery.
• In vivo results suggest that HPGL-C. officinalis nanofibers are a promising candidate for clinical wound dressing applications.