Electrospun antibacterial β-Ag(VO₃)/PCL composite membranes for periodontal tissue regeneration

Periodontitis is a widespread and challenging oral disease, which often involves recurring infections that complicate treatment. This study explores a novel tissue engineering approach to address such an issue, involving the design of a nanofibers-based composite material containing silver, a natural antibacterial agent.

Pure β-Ag(VO₃) nanorods were synthesized via microwave irradiation and loaded into electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes. Integration was confirmed through FTIR, EDS, and XRD analyses and the release profile of Ag and V from the fibers was evaluated by ICP-OES. Biocompatibility towards mammalian cells recurred to resazurin metabolic, cell scoring and microscopy assays in cultured fibroblasts. Bioactivity against bacteria was evaluated in agar diffusion susceptibility tests using E. coli (Gram-negative) and S. aureus (Gram-positive).

A PCL-based electrospun membrane, loaded with β-Ag(VO₃) nanorods, was successfully developed and characterized. Incorporation of the nanorods improved the nanofibers' morphology, and the membranes showed a high cytocompatibility with fibroblasts. Importantly, a 0.5 % β-Ag(VO₃) concentration in the composite demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This antibacterial effect is most likely due to a kill-on-contact mechanism rather than from the released of Ag ions, that was < 1 ppm over the 24 h of exposure.

The ease of incorporating silver vanadates into polymeric membranes using the methodology here described, combined with the antibacterial effects and cytocompatibility presented by the composite membranes, suggests that these materials may represent a promising avenue for tackling recurring infections in the oral cavity and become valuable options in periodontitis treatment.