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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
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Composite Scaffolds of Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Fibers for Temporally Controlled Release of Biomolecules
Published on: August 19, 2015
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Propolis-loaded nanofiber scaffolds based on polyvinyl alcohol and polycaprolactone
Mahnaz Sadat Mirbagheri1, Sahar Akhavan-Mahdavi1, Anwarul Hasan2
1Food Industry Research Co., Gorgan, Iran; Food and Bio-Nanotech International Research Center (Fabiano), Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|June 29, 2023
Summary
Electrospun nanofibers loaded with propolis (PRP) show promise for wound healing. Optimized formulations using polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) demonstrated no cytotoxicity and suitable properties for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Propolis-loaded electrospun nanofibers (PENs) exhibit significant pharmacological and biological properties, making them suitable for biomedical applications like wound healing.
- Optimizing the concentration of propolis (PRP) within polymer matrices is crucial for enhancing scaffold characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize electrospun nanofibers incorporating propolis (PRP) using polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
- To investigate the impact of varying PRP concentrations on scaffold properties such as porosity, diameter, wettability, release, and tensile strength using response surface methodology (RSM).
Main Methods:
- Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to model and optimize the characteristics of PCL- and PVA-based nanofibers containing different concentrations of PRP.
- Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to develop second-order polynomial models for predicting scaffold properties, with high coefficients of determination (R² ranging from 0.95 to 0.989).
- Cytotoxicity assays and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were performed on the optimized nanofiber formulations.
Main Results:
- Optimal propolis concentrations were identified as 6% for PCL and 5% for PVA, yielding scaffolds with desirable characteristics.
- The optimized propolis-loaded nanofibers (PENs) exhibited no cytotoxicity at the selected concentrations.
- FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of new chemical functional groups, and morphological examination revealed uniform fiber structures without beads.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun nanofibers incorporating optimized concentrations of propolis demonstrate excellent properties for biomedical applications.
- These PENs, particularly those based on PCL and PVA, are suitable for use in tissue engineering and wound healing applications.
- The study successfully optimized PEN formulations, paving the way for their translation into clinical practice.
