Controlled release and antibacterial activity of antibiotic-loaded electrospun halloysite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite nanofibers

Fabrication of nanofiber-based drug delivery system with controlled release property is of general interest in biomedical sciences. In this study, we prepared an antibiotic drug tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH)-loaded halloysite nanotubes/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite nanofibers (TCH/HNTs/PLGA), and evaluated the drug release and antibacterial activity of this drug delivery system. The structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of the formed electrospun TCH/HNTs/PLGA composite nanofibrous mats were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tensile testing. We show that the incorporation of TCH-loaded HNTs within the PLGA nanofibers is able to improve the tensile strength and maintain the three-dimensional structure of the nanofibrous mats. In vitro viability assay and SEM morphology observation of mouse fibroblast cells cultured onto the fibrous scaffolds demonstrate that the developed TCH/HNTs/PLGA composite nanofibers are cytocompatible. More importantly, the TCH/HNTs/PLGA composite nanofibers are able to release the antibacterial drug TCH in a sustained manner for 42 days and display antimicrobial activity solely associated with the encapsulated TCH drug. With the improved mechanical durability, sustained drug release profile, good cytocompatibility, and non-compromised therapeutic efficacy, the developed composite electrospun nanofibrous drug delivery system may be used as therapeutic scaffold materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.