Potential applications of PLGA/PVA coaxial nanofibers with controlled release for guiding tissue regeneration

Abstract Biomedical scaffolds are increasingly used in bone repair due to their exceptional ability to support cell growth and proliferation. This study developed a multifunctional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/metronidazole coaxial electrospun nanofiber membrane to overcome the limitations of current bone tissue self-repair mechanisms. Optimization of the coaxial electrospinning parameters significantly improved the membrane’s overall performance. Mechanical property testing revealed that the tensile strength increased from 4.304 ± 0.079 MPa to 6.915 ± 0.032 MPa as the shell layer feeding rate was increased. Drug release studies demonstrated a marked reduction in the initial burst release of metronidazole as the shell layer thickness increased. The release amount decreased from 86% to 34% by the third hour, and the release continued over the course of one week. Furthermore, the in vitro release model transitioned from first-order kinetics to Peppas-Sahlin kinetics. In vitro studies confirmed that the metronidazole-loaded coaxial fiber membrane exhibited excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and osteogenic potential. In conclusion, PLGA/PVA controlled-release nanofiber membranes loaded with antibacterial drugs offer great promise for bone tissue regeneration therapies.