Bilayer Nanofiber Membrane Based on Curcumin‐Loaded Polycaprolactone/Carboxymethyl Chitosan for Prevention of Epidural Adhesions

ABSTRACT Epidural adhesions are a common complication following spinal cord surgery, often resulting in severe spinal pain and, in many cases, necessitating additional surgical intervention. In this study, bilayer membranes were fabricated using the electrospinning method to prevent postsurgical epidural adhesions and accelerate the healing process. The membranes consisted of curcumin (CUR)‐loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers as the exterior layer, which should be in contact with the adjacent tissues, and carboxymethyl chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CMC/PEO) nanofibers as the interior layer, which should be in contact with the surgical site. The PCL layer, designed for its anti‐adhesion properties, was loaded with 5 and 10 wt.% CUR, while the CMC/PEO layer was optimized to promote tissue regeneration and, as a result of that, to accelerate the healing process. Characterization of the membranes was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared (ATR‐FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), contact angle measurements, hydrolytic degradation studies, in vitro cell studies, and muco‐adhesion analysis. CUR release, evaluated through UV/Vis spectrophotometry, showed that membranes with 10 wt.% CUR exhibited a higher release rate than those with 5 wt.%, enhancing the healing process due to CUR's anti‐inflammatory properties. Muco‐adhesion analysis revealed that the CMC/PEO layer demonstrated 2.5 times higher maximum detachment force (MDF) compared to the PCL/CUR layer, indicating the PCL layer's effectiveness in preventing adhesions. In vitro cell studies, including MTT assays, confirmed the biocompatibility of all membranes. Furthermore, cell attachment studies indicated greater adhesion to the CMC/PEO layer, underscoring the bilayer membrane's potential for both preventing epidural adhesions and promoting tissue regeneration.