Electrospun curcumin-loaded polylactic acid/microcrystalline cellulose nanofiber membranes with high mechanical and antibacterial properties for wound dressings

The synergistic optimization of antibacterial activity and mechanical properties has emerged as a priority in the development of medical dressings for chronic wounds. In this study, curcumin (Cur)-loaded polylactic acid/microcrystalline cellulose (PLA/MCC) nanofiber membranes were fabricated via electrospinning technology. It was found that the incorporation of 3% Cur significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the electrospun nanofiber membrane compared with neat PLA. Its tensile strength and elongation at break increased by 240.2% and 181.2%, respectively, which meets the mechanical property requirements for clinical applications (1–40 MPa). The antibacterial activity is a core indicator that directly determines the practical application value of wound dressings. 3% Cur-loaded PLA/MCC nanofiber membranes show excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Compared with PLA/MCC, the inhibition rate was increased by 20.1% against Escherichia coli and 72.2% against Staphylococcus aureus , with antioxidant activity exceeding 68.0%. In addition, cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility tests verified that all nanofiber membranes complied with the safety standards of biomedical materials. In conclusion, the PLA/MCC/Cur nanofiber membranes hold great promise as a novel, efficient, and safe dressing candidate for the clinical management of chronic wounds. Download: Download high-res image (185KB) Download: Download full-size image