ERAP2 inhibitor -incorporated nanofibers: Characterization and biological assessment

ERAP2 is an enzyme essential in the preparation of mature antigen from peptide precursors. Inhibitors of this enzyme can find applications in immuno-oncology and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases including psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. In recent years, electrospinning has attracted considerable interest in the field of drug delivery. The potential applications of electrospun fibers in the treatment of skin and arthritis diseases are significant. This can be attributed to the fibers' structural similarity to the extracellular matrix, in addition to their capacity to encapsulate disease-modifying anti-inflammatory agents. Electrospun fibrous mats are also used as drug delivery systems for loading potential anticancer drugs, with the aim of killing cancer cells. This allows for enhanced tumour penetration, increased drug retention, and higher drug delivery. The objective of this project was to evaluate the production of meshes using electrospun poly(ε-Caprolactone) (PCL), and poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fibrous patches, loaded with an ERAP2 inhibitor, with or without liposomes. An examination was conducted to ascertain the physicochemical properties, including morphology and structure. The loading, release and stability of the inhibitor was studied by both UV-Vis and MS spectroscopy. The cytotoxic assay demonstrated the biocompatibility of the fabricated nanomats of PVA and PVA-liposome (PVA-L) formulations. In vitro assays demonstrated the compatibility of meshes with cell growth, ERAP2 engagement and antigen presentation. The results of the study validated the potential for future applications in the specified therapeutic areas.