Electrospun materials from polylactide and Schiff base derivative of Jeffamine ED® and 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxaldehyde and its complex with Cu2+: Preparation, antioxidant and antitumor activities

Abstract Novel fibrous materials from polylactide (PLA) and Schiff base from Jeffamine ED® and 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (Jeff-8Q) or its complex with Cu2+ (Jeff-8Q.Cu2+) were successfully prepared by using one-pot electrospinning or electrospinning combined with dip-coating. These approaches enabled the fabrication of materials of diverse design: non-woven textile in which Jeff-8Q or Jeff-8Q.Cu2+ was predominantly in the fibers' bulk (type “in”) or was deposited as a thin film on the surface of the fibers (type “on”). The morphology of the mats and chemical composition of their surface were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The coordination of Cu2+ ions in Jeff-8Q.Cu2+/inPLA and Jeff-8Q.Cu2+/onPLA mats was examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It was found that the in vitro release of Jeff-8Q (Jeff-8Q.Cu2+) from the type “on” mats was more rapid than that of the type “in” mats. Enhancement of the antioxidant activity of the Jeff-8Q.Cu2+-containing fibrous mats as compared to mats containing Jeff-8Q was observed. In contrast to the neat PLA mat, the Jeff-8Q- and Jeff-8Q.Cu2+-containing mats (both type “in” and “on”) displayed high in vitro antitumor activity against human cervical HeLa cells. The obtained materials are promising for use in local tumor treatment.