Electrospun graphene oxides reinforced polylactic acid /polycaprolactone shape memory membranes for antibacterial tracheal stents

Based on the shape memory polymer (SMP), we create an antibacterial strategy of ‘Shape-Wetting-Release’ Mechanism with drug release kinetics to address the high risk of post-operative infection inherent to airway implants. • Graphene oxide (GO) is purposed for the first time as multifunctional enhancements to SMP, including improvements in mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, shape recovery performance and antibacterial drug delivery platform specifically for SMP tracheal stents. Electrospun shape-memory polymer (SMP) membranes were engineered from polylactic acid/polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) for potential antibacterial tracheal stent applications. This research integrated shape memory behavior with drug release kinetics to achieve on-demand antibacterial response, specifically tailored for the infection-susceptible tracheal microenvironment. GO served as both a reinforcing nanofiller and a carrier for vancomycin (VAN) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The effects of GO content (0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt%) on fiber morphology, mechanical properties, thermal behavior, hydrophilicity, and shape-memory performance were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the incorporation of 0.1 wt% GO yielded optimal mechanical reinforcement and shape recovery efficiency (100% fixity/recovery ratio, recovery time ∼8 s). Notably, the shape memory effect (SME) actively enhanced membrane hydrophilicity with a decreased contact angle from ∼127° to ∼87° and facilitated a more rapid release of VAN. The drug-loaded membranes exhibited sustained release profiles and potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae . Biocompatibility tests confirmed the enhanced adhesion and viability of rat tracheal epithelial cells on GO-reinforced membranes, with Ag@GO showing better cytocompatibility to VAN@GO. This work demonstrated an antibacterial strategy for advanced tracheal stents. Download: Download high-res image (321KB) Download: Download full-size image