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Investigating electrospun shape memory patches as Gentamicin drug delivery system
S Pisani1, A Piazza2, R Dorati1
1Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|February 24, 2025
Summary
Electrospun patches made from a shape-memory polymer loaded with gentamicin offer a promising local therapy for surgical site infections. These drug delivery systems maintain their structure and antibiotic release after thermal treatment and show effectiveness against bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant clinical challenge, often treated with systemic antibiotics that carry risks of side effects and resistance.
- Local antibiotic delivery systems can provide targeted therapy, minimizing systemic exposure and potentially overcoming multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- Polymers with shape memory properties offer novel possibilities for minimally invasive drug delivery devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop electrospun patches with thermal-sensitive shape memory behavior for localized antibiotic delivery.
- To load gentamicin (GS), a last-line antibiotic, into these patches for treating SSIs.
- To evaluate the impact of drug loading and shape memory thermal treatment (SMT) on the patches' properties and efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of Polylactide-co-polycaprolactone 70:30 (PLLA-co-PCL 70:30) to create nanofibrous patches.
- Loading of gentamicin (GS) into the electrospun matrices.
- Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing.
- Assessment of shape memory properties after SMT under various thermal conditions.
- Evaluation of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
Main Results:
- PLLA-co-PCL 70:30 patches exhibited maintained shape memory properties after gentamicin loading and SMT at 60°C.
- Nanofiber morphology and drug release profiles were not adversely affected by the SMT process.
- Electrospinning and drug loading induced changes in copolymer conformation and thermal behavior.
- Mechanical properties were suitable for application in soft tissues.
- Patches demonstrated promising antimicrobial effects against gentamicin-susceptible strains, including a clinical isolate.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun PLLA-co-PCL 70:30 patches are viable for creating drug delivery systems with tunable shape memory properties.
- These patches can effectively deliver gentamicin locally, showing potential for SSI treatment.
- The developed system offers a minimally invasive approach to combat bacterial infections at surgical sites.
