Development and Assessment of Rutin/Betamethasone-Loaded PAN-PVP Nanofibers for Wound Healing Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Wound healing requires effective drug delivery systems to manage inflammation and infection.
• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are suitable polymers for fabricating drug-eluting scaffolds.
• Betamethasone dipropionate (anti-inflammatory) and rutin hydrate (antioxidant) offer synergistic therapeutic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize dual drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers (PAN-PVP) for enhanced wound healing.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties, drug release kinetics, and antimicrobial activity of the developed nanofibers.
• To assess the in vivo efficacy of the drug-loaded nanofibers in accelerating wound closure and tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of PAN and PVP polymers incorporating betamethasone dipropionate and rutin hydrate.
• Physicochemical characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
• In vitro drug release studies (Franz-cell diffusion), antibacterial assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and in vivo wound healing assessment in animal models.

Main Results:

• SEM confirmed nanofiber formation with beaded morphology; FTIR verified component presence.
• TGA indicated enhanced thermal stability; Franz-cell studies demonstrated sustained drug release.
• Significant inhibition of bacterial growth was observed. In vivo studies showed accelerated wound contraction and improved re-epithelialization and collagen organization.

Conclusions:

• The dual-drug loaded PAN-PVP nanofibers exhibit sustained release, favorable physicochemical properties, and effective antimicrobial action.
• The combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects promote rapid tissue repair and reduce inflammation.
• These findings highlight the translational potential of these nanofibers as advanced wound dressings for complex wound management.