Suberin fatty acids (SFAs) isolated from outer birch bark were investigated as an antimicrobial agent and biomaterial in nanofibrous mats intended for wound treatment. Electrospinning (ES) was used in preparing the composite nonwoven nanomats containing chloramphenicol (CAM; as a primary antimicrobial drug), SFAs, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (as a carrier polymer for ES). The X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and texture analysis were used for the physicochemical and mechanical characterization of the nanomats. ES produced nanofibrous mats with uniform structure and with an average fiber diameter ranging from 370 to 425 nm. Microcrystalline SFAs and crystalline CAM were found to undergo a solid-state transformation during ES processing. The ES process caused also the loss of CAM in the final nanofibers. In the texture analysis, the SFAs containing nanofibers exhibited significantly higher maximum detachment force to an isolated pig skin (p < 0.05) than that obtained with the reference nanofibers. CAM exists in an amorphous form in the nanofibers which needs to be taken into account in controlling the physical storage stability. In conclusion, homogeneous composite nanofibrous mats for wound healing can be electrospun from the ternary mixture(s) of CAM, SFAs, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Keywords: antimicrobial agent/drug; electrospun nanofibers; nanotechnology; nonwoven nanomats; physical characterization; polymeric biomaterials; polymeric drug carrier; solvent evaporation; suberin fatty acids; wound therapy.
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