Propranolol-loaded electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing: From fabrication and characterization to preliminary wound healing evaluation.

objectivesThe wound healing potential of beta-blocker drugs such as propranolol (PNL) has recently attracted attention. To date, incorporation of PNL into electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing mats has not been tested as a novel topical drug delivery system. Presently, electrospun nanofibrous mats loaded with PNL were fabricated, and their physicochemical properties and wound healing activities were evaluated. MATERIALS AND

methodsPolyvinyl alcohol solutions containing 0, 2% or 4% (wt/vol) PNL were electrospun into mats, and the physicochemical properties and PNL release were evaluated.

resultsThe 4% PNL mat had thin fibers (160 nm), convincing porosity (79.5%), and good hydrophilicity (swelling: 89.1%, water contact angle: 42.1°) with little degradability (14.2%). The release of PNL was not in bursts and was best explained by the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation (R2 = 0.96, n = 0.40), suggesting Fickian release. The viability of fibroblasts was 173% on day 5 of incubation with 4% PNL mats, indicating good mat biocompatibility. In vivo treatment for 14 days with 4% PNL mats resulted in wounds with a surface area of only 9% of the original wound area. These wounds had better histopathologic characteristics and were associated with less oxidative stress.

conclusionThe wound dressing fabricated with 4% PNL showed good potential for wound healing because of a favorable drug release profile from the nanofiber scaffold, and can be considered eligible for further clinical research.