Fabrication and characterization of quercetin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/chitosan electrospun mats for use as bioactive wound dressings

Electrospinning technology could be a promising approach for fabricating nanofibrous wound dressings that would facilitate the controlled delivery of biologically active agents. This study involved the preparation of quercetin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/chitosan (CH) electrospun nanofibers with different quercetin contents, namely 1–10 wt.% quercetin. Characterization of the obtained samples was performed with respect to morphology, physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release behavior, and in vivo wound healing activity. The morphology of the materials was evaluated by FE-SEM. XRD and FTIR were used to confirm the incorporation of quercetin into PCL/CH nanofibers. Quercetin addition at moderate concentrations did not adversely affect fiber formation, whereas high concentrations caused significant morphological alterations. XRD and FTIR data revealed effective drug incorporation and amorphous dispersion within the polymer matrix. The entrapment efficiency of quercetin decreased as the amount of drug increased. In vitro drug release studies in PBS demonstrated a sustained drug release pattern over the investigated period of 170 h; the release behavior was formulation-dependent. The obtained materials were shown to facilitate the enhancement of wound healing and collagen deposition when tested in vivo in comparison with blank PCL scaffolds.