Novel elastomeric fibrous composites of poly-ε-caprolactone/propolis and their evaluation for biomedical applications

Elastomer electrospun fibers are suitable for biomedical applications due to more processability. Designing elastomer polymeric fibers with outstanding remedial effects has great practical importance in the healthcare system. For this purpose, we blended Propolis Ethanolic Extract (PEE) with poly-E-caprolactone (PCL) and prepared elastomeric electrospun mats. We then characterized and evaluated these mats as wound dressing and Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) membranes. In vitro propolis release, surface hydrophilicity, degradation, and tensile testing were studied. In addition, cellular studies for biocompatibility of the mats, proliferation and migration effects, and also antibacterial and antifungal effects of the mats were assessed. Furthermore, the mats were practiced in an induced-wound rat model to study in vivo wound dressing efficiency and to perform histopathological investigation. The results indicated that the PEE-loaded mats with parallel fiber orientation exhibited 482 +/- 38.89% tensile strain and those with random fiber orientation showed 144.67 +/- 23.36% tensile strain. These mats showed a faster degradation rate and more hydrophilicity than the PCL mats. Moreover, the antibacterial study indicated that the PEE-loaded mats were effective against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and Candida albicans- an opportunistic pathogenic fungus. The PEE-loaded mats also indicated that a faster and dose-dependent migration efficacy than the control and respective PCL mats. In vivo experiments confirmed the PEE-loaded mats significantly accelerated the wound healing rate. Taken together, the elastomeric PEE-PCL mats with, good mechanical properties, and accelerated wound dressing ability offer an appropriate promise as wound dressing and GTR membranes.

Automated summary

By blending Propolis Ethanolic Extract with poly-E-caprolactone, elastomeric electrospun mats with therapeutic effects were prepared, showing good mechanical properties and accelerated wound healing ability, suitable for wound dressing and GTR membranes.