Creation of Chitosan‐Based Nanocapsule‐in‐Nanofiber Structures for Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Drug Co‐Delivery and Their Dressing Applications in Diabetic Wounds

Abstract

AbstractNanofiber meshes (NFMs) loaded with therapeutic agents are very often employed to treat hard‐to‐heal wounds such as diabetic wounds. However, most of the NFMs have limited capability to load multiple or hydrophilicity distinctive‐therapeutic agents. The therapy strategy is therefore significantly hampered. To tackle the innate drawback associated with the drug loading versatility, a chitosan‐based nanocapsule‐in‐nanofiber (NC‐in‐NF) structural NFM system is developed for simultaneous loading of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Oleic acid‐modified chitosan is first converted into NCs by the developed mini‐emulsion interfacial cross‐linking procedure, followed by loading a hydrophobic anti‐inflammatory agent Curcumin (Cur) into the NCs. Sequentially, the Cur‐loaded NCs are successfully introduced into reductant‐responsive maleoyl functional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol NFMs containing a hydrophilic antibiotic Tetracycline hydrochloride. Having a co‐loading capability for hydrophilicity distinctive agents, biocompatibility, and a controlled release property, the resulting NFMs have demonstrated the efficacy on promoting wound healing either in normal or diabetic rats.