Collagen/PCL electrospun fibers loaded with polyphenols: Curcumin and resveratrol comparison

Curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Rsv) have already been proposed for both anti-tumor and wound healing applications and contrasting results have been published regarding their anti- or pro-angiogenic activity; depending on the final application, an anti- or a pro-angiogenic activity is required. In the present study, a comparison of Cur and Rsv loaded electrospun fibers based on collagen and polycaprolactone (PCL) mixture was performed in order to make a contribution to understanding whether the two polyphenols have anti or pro-angiogenic activity. Despite their hydrophobic character, the two polyphenols affected morphology and wettability of the fibers, and Rsv-loaded fibers resulted larger and more quickly wettable. After hydration, collagen/PCL fibers loaded with both Cur and Rsv exhibited higher elongation and better deformation with respect to the unloaded fibers. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis showed interactions between the polyphenols and collagen. Both fiber formulations resulted biocompatible with an increase of fibroblast number during 7 days of culture; confocal microscopy analyses demonstrated that Cur released by the fibers was internalized by the cells which remained vital and adherent. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay showed that both fibers had anti-angiogenic behavior, suggesting that an anti-cancer application more than a wound healing one could be envisaged.