Silver sulfadiazine loaded core-shell airbrushed nanofibers for burn wound healing application

Ideal dressing materials for complex and large asymmetric burns should have the dual properties of anti-bacterial and regenerative with advanced applicability of direct deposit on the wound at the patient bedside. In this study, core-shell nanofibers (polycaprolactone; PCL and polyethylene oxide; PEO) with different percent of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) loading (2-10%) were prepared by the airbrushing method using a custom build device. Results indicate a sustained release profile of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) up to 28 days and concentration-dependent anti-bacterial activity. The morphology and proliferation of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells and human dental follicle stem cells (HDFSC) on the silver sulfadiazine loaded nanofibers confirm the biocompatibility of airbrushed nanofibers. Moreover, upregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (Col I, Col III, and elastin) support the differentiation and regenerative properties of silver sulfadiazine nanofiber mats. This was further confirmed by the complete recovery of rabbit burn wound models within 7 days of silver sulfadiazine loaded nanofiber dressing. Histopathology data show silver sulfadiazine loaded core-shell nanofibers' anti-inflammatory and proliferative activity without any adverse response on the tissue. Overall data display that the airbrushed silver sulfadiazine-loaded core-shell nanofibers are effective dressing material with the possibility of direct fiber deposition on the wound to cover, heal, and regenerate large asymmetric burn wounds.