Pullulan-based nanofiber membranes with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for rhinosinusitis therapy

The optimized pullulan/ampicillin/clove oil nanofibers exhibited uniform, bead-free morphology with an average diameter of 530 ± 35 nm and adequate thermal stability. Composite nanofibers demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity compared to single-agent formulations. The nanofibers were non-cytotoxic up to 500 µg/mL and significantly reduced nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated macrophages (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Mucointeraction and mucosal permeation studies supported their suitability for nasal delivery. These findings demonstrate that pullulan-based nanofibers offer a biocompatible, noninvasive platform for localized antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy in rhinosinusitis.