Local delivery of resveratrol using polycaprolactone nanofibers for treatment of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a biofilm-associated inflammatory disease of the periodontium. Resveratrol (RSV) is a promising natural substance for treatment due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. RSV lacks efficacy under in vivo conditions due to low solubility and stability. Our special interest was to evaluate the effect of several selected organic solvent mixtures on polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers morphology, RSV incorporation and its release using electrospinning method and scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and in vitro drug release measurements. The results showed that different organic solvent mixtures and electrospinning parameters strongly influence nanofiber morphology because thick, thin, flat, or circular nanofibers can be produced. RSV incorporated into PCL-nanofibers below 5% is mostly in amorphous form, and at higher loading nanocrystals were seen on the surface of thinner nanofibers, whereas thicker nanofibers can also cover the crystals. PCL nanofibers enabled prolonged release compared to the dissolution of pure RSV in sink condition. A bi-phase release kinetic was the consequence of RSV dissolution and cleavage of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between PCL and RSV. The RSV-loaded PCL nanofibers will provide RSV for treatment of periodontal disease in the periodontal pocket even longer due to sustain release, and lowgingival fluid flow. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.