Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Poly(Lactic Acid)-Bovine Lactoferrin Nanofiber Membranes

Macromol Biosci. 2018 Mar;18(3). doi: 10.1002/mabi.201700324. Epub 2018 Jan 15.

Abstract

Antimicrobial materials have become relevant for local therapies preventing microbial resistance induced by systemic antibiotic treatments. This work reports the development of electrospun poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofiber membranes loaded with bovine lactoferrin (bLF) up to 20 wt%. The membranes present smooth and nondefective fibers with mean diameters between 717 ± 197 and 495 ± 127 nm, and an overall porosity of ≈80%. The hydrophobicity of the PLLA membranes is reduced by the presence of bLF. The release profile of bLF correlates with an anomalous transport model, with 17.7 ± 3.6% being released over 7 weeks. The nanofiber mats show no cytotoxicity on human skin fibroblasts and even promote cell proliferation after short exposure periods. Furthermore, the developed membranes display antifungal activity against Aspergillus nidulans by inhibiting spore germination and mycelial growth. These results evidence the strong potential of bLF-PLLA nanofiber membranes to be used as antifungal dressings.

Keywords: antimicrobial activity; electrospinning; lactoferrin; nanofiber membranes; poly(lactic acid).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Aspergillus nidulans / drug effects
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lactoferrin / chemistry
  • Lactoferrin / pharmacology*
  • Membranes / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Polyesters / pharmacology*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Polyesters
  • poly(lactide)
  • Lactoferrin