Preparation, characterization, and antibacterial effect of doxycycline loaded kefiran nanofibers

Kefiran is a microbial biopolymer which is able to form nanofibers with specific characteristic features. The present study demonstrated the successful fabrication of drug loaded kefiran nanofibrous mats by electrospinnig method. Nanofibrous mats were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM images revealed bead free nanofibers with the average diameter of 300 nm. In addition, 1200 mu g/mL concentration of doxycycline was loaded within kefiran nanofibers. The in vitro release study showed 45% release over 96 h with 30% burst release in 5 h. Antibacterial assay of nanofibers with and without drug was carried out against S. aureus and E. coli by agar disc diffusion method. Inhibition zone of drug loaded nanofibers was 22 and 20 mm for S. aureus and E. coli respectively. Viability of L929 fibroblast cells exposed to nanofibers were examined by MTT assay method. The MTT results showed that doxycycline loaded kefiran nanofiber revealed 50.6% cell viability compare to doxycycline itself which was 33.2% after 72 h. Overall, it can be proposed that since kefiran nanofiber mat revealed good antibacterial effect and lowered cytotoxicity of loaded doxycycline, it can be a promising carrier for antibacterial drug delivery systems in wound dressing applications.