Aim: A novel electrospun biocompatible nanofibrous material loaded with commensal bacteria for potential preventive treatment of the diabetic foot was developed.
Materials & methods: Two biocompatible polymers (carboxymethylcellulose and polyethylene oxide) were combined with a bacterium isolate from the skin located between the toes of a healthy adult (identified using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry-based method as a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis). Higher bacteria loads in the material were assured through their encapsulation in polyethylenimine. The nanofibrous material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, zeta-potential measurements and through evaluation of cell growth and viability.
Results & discussion: nanometer formation was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, while the zeta-potential measurements revealed successful bacteria encapsulation. Viable and sufficiently growing cells were confirmed prior and after their incorporation.
Conclusion: The prepared materials were proven suitable to deliver viable commensal bacteria in a comparable share to the Staphylococcaceae in the foot microbiome making this approach promising for preventive diabetic foot treatment.
Keywords: cell electrospinning; commensal bacteria; controlled release; diabetic foot; prophylactic/preventive treatment; release kinetics.