A coaxial nanofibrous scaffold of poly (ε-caprolactone) and gelatin/cellulose acetate encapsulating anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs was co-electrospun for skin tissue regeneration. Indomethacin and ciprofloxacin as model drugs were added to the core and the shell solutions, respectively. The effect of the drugs’ presence and crosslinking on the scaffold properties was investigated. TEM images confirmed the core−shell structure of the scaffold. The fiber diameter and the pore size of the scaffold increased after crosslinking. The tensile properties of the scaffold improved after crosslinking. The crosslinked scaffold illustrated a higher rate of swelling, and a lower rate of degradation and drug release compared to the uncrosslinked one. Fitting the release data into the Peppas equation showed that Fickian diffusion was the dominant mechanism of drug release from the scaffolds. The results of biocompatibility evaluations showed no cytotoxicity and suitable adhesion and cell growth on the prepared core−shell structure. The antibacterial activity of the scaffolds was studied against one of the most common pathogens in skin wounds, where the existence of ciprofloxacin could prevent the growth of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria around the scaffold. The obtained results suggested a new coaxial nanofibrous scaffold as a promising candidate for simultaneous tissue regeneration and controlled drug release.
Keywords: antibacterial activity; cellulose acetate; core–shell nanofibers; drug release; electrospinning; gelatin; poly (ε-caprolactone).