Electrospun nanocomposites with controlled release of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of purulent wounds

Short description

The aim of project is experimental validation of a laboratory technology for synthesizing a biocompatible electrospun nanocomposite based on polycaprolactone (PCL). This nanocomposite will be characterized by a synergistic antimicrobial effect and regenerative potential, featuring a controlled release of active components.

The project involves developing a methodology for the synthesis of polymeric microspheres based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) loaded with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), alongside the investigation of their structural and functional properties.

A protocol will be developed for fabricating porous PCL polymeric scaffolds via electrospinning, incorporating FGF-2-loaded PLGA microspheres and antibacterial agents. This will be followed by an evaluation of their structural and functional properties, including the release kinetics of the active substances, optimized to ensure pronounced antimicrobial and regenerative effects.

This approach will yield a PCL polymeric scaffold with an experimentally confirmed impact on wound bacterial load and the capacity to accelerate wound closure, reduce the time required for complete epithelialization, enhance re-epithelialization rates, and favorably modulate granulation tissue formation, neovascularization, cellular infiltration, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, all while maintaining a sustained in situ release profile of FGF-2.

The development of such a combined system, which biomimetically replicates the extracellular matrix and exerts both antimicrobial and regenerative functions, will overcome the typical limitations of conventional wound dressings-specifically, the rapid depletion of antimicrobial efficacy and the absence or short-lived impact of biologically active agents.

This project is designed to establish a novel scientific and technological platform for bioengineered materials, namely wound dressings with controlled active substance release. The anticipated outcomes will be highly translational, possessing significant potential for application in regenerative medicine. They will drive the development of next-generation biocompatible wound dressings and lay the groundwork for future research into smart platforms for the delivery of biologically active molecules.