Tubular Electrospun Vancomycin-Loaded Vascular Grafts: Formulation Study and Physicochemical Characterization

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Antimicrobial Research

Background:

• Vascular graft infections pose significant clinical challenges, necessitating advanced antimicrobial strategies.
• Current treatments often face limitations such as systemic toxicity and the development of antibiotic resistance.
• Developing localized drug delivery systems for vascular grafts is crucial for effective infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate electrospun tubular grafts with controlled vancomycin (VMC) release for preventing graft infections.
• To utilize medical healthcare-grade polymers and ICH-compliant solvents for safe and effective graft fabrication.
• To optimize VMC incorporation and release kinetics within electrospun polyester grafts.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of poly-L-lactide-co-poly-ε-caprolactone and poly lactide-co-glycolide with vancomycin.
• Utilizing a methylene chloride and acetone solvent system (80:20 ratio) for optimized fiber morphology.
• Incorporating a surfactant to minimize VMC precipitation and control release profiles.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of tubular grafts with fiber sizes < 6 mm.
• Achieved controlled vancomycin release over 96–168 hours, exceeding the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
• SEM analysis confirmed VMC and surfactant influence on fiber size, distribution, and orientation, reducing VMC precipitation.

Conclusions:

• The developed vancomycin-loaded electrospun grafts provide a promising localized antimicrobial delivery system.
• Controlled release of vancomycin effectively inhibits bacterial growth and prevents the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
• This approach offers a safer and more effective alternative for preventing vascular graft infections.