Controlled delivery of tetracycline hydrochloride intercalated into smectite clay using polyurethane nanofibrous membrane for wound healing application

Abstract This study reports application of electrospinning for controlled drug delivery by using polyurethane monolithic nanofibrous web. The endeavor of this study was to explore the effects on release, antimicrobial activity, and morphological behavior of drug–nanoclay intercalates vis-a-vis direct drug inclusion in the form of nanofibrous structures. Antibiotic drug, tetracycline hydrochloride was incorporated into montmorillonite clay interlayer spacing and then embedded into the synthetic polymeric nanofibrous structures. In vitro release study was conducted to assess the release characteristics. Disk diffusion experiment was organized to observe antimicrobial activities and finally human dermal fibroblast cells were grown on the nanofibrous web to address morphological behavior. The results showed that the nanoclay performed as a better way in the form of sustained drug release carrier. The produced electrospun nanofibrous webs could provide broad spectrum antibacterial activities beneficial for topical applications. The fibroblast cell growth on the nanofibrous web caused proliferation to result a mesh like structure which would certainly have a positive effect on wound healing.