Dual Acidic pH-Responsive Post-Crosslinked E-Spun Nanofibrous Scaffolds Exhibiting Enhanced Disassembly and Release...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Electrospun nanofibrous mats offer potential for localized cancer treatment and tissue regeneration.
• Conventional scaffolds face challenges with delayed and uncontrolled drug release due to weak crosslinking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop dual acidic pH-responsive degradable electrospun nanofibrous mats for enhanced localized cancer chemotherapy.
• To address limitations of inefficient crosslinking and drug release in current nanofibrous scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a phenyl diboronic acid crosslinker with an acid-cleavable Schiff base linkage.
• Fabrication of dual smart mats crosslinked with acid-labile imine and boronic ester linkages.
• Evaluation of degradation profiles, drug release kinetics, antitumoral activity, and hemocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The dual smart mats exhibited rapid degradation in acidic environments via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis.
• Enhanced release of encapsulated anticancer drugs was observed upon degradation.
• Doxorubicin-loaded mats demonstrated significant antitumoral activity and hemocompatibility.
• Empty mats showed good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• Dual acidic pH-responsive degradable electrospun nanofibrous mats show great potential as implantable scaffolds for localized cancer drug delivery.
• The developed system offers a promising strategy for controlled and enhanced chemotherapy.
• This approach overcomes limitations of conventional drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.