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Zein/polycaprolactone electrospun matrices for localised controlled delivery of tetracycline

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Abstract

We report the controlled release of the antibiotic tetracycline (Tet) from triple-layered (3L) electrospun matrices consisting of zein or a zein/PCL blend, where the drug was loaded into the central layer with the two outer layers acting as diffusion barriers. These fibrous matrices successfully encapsulated Tet and efficiently inhibited the growth of a clinical isolate, the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain MRSA252, as demonstrated in a modified Kirby–Bauer disc assay over 5 days. Whilst untreated zein fibres are unstable in an aqueous environment, rapidly shrinking due to plasticisation and film formation, blending zein with PCL stabilised the electrospun matrices and prevented them from shrinking. These 3L formulations display sustained antibiotic release and provide a proof of concept for zein-based polymeric matrices as wound dressings to treat or prevent bacterial infection. This is the first demonstration of the controlled release of a clinically used antibiotic from electrospun zein-based matrices.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Damascus University for a fully funded scholarship (to NA). We thank Ursula Potter (SEM), John Mitchels (Raman microscopy) and Jo Carter (Microbiology), all at the University of Bath, for their skilled support.

Conflict of interest

All three authors Nour Alhusein, Ian S. Blagbrough and Paul A. De Bank declare that they have no conflict of interest. There were no experiments on human or animal subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Nour Alhusein, Ian S. Blagbrough & Paul A. De Bank

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  1. Nour Alhusein
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  2. Ian S. Blagbrough
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  3. Paul A. De Bank
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Correspondence to Paul A. De Bank.

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Alhusein, N., Blagbrough, I.S. & De Bank, P.A. Zein/polycaprolactone electrospun matrices for localised controlled delivery of tetracycline. Drug Deliv. and Transl. Res. 3, 542–550 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-013-0179-2

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