Modified nanofiber containing chitosan and graphene oxide-magnetite nanoparticles as effective materials for smart wound dressing

Since the advent of nanotechnology in the last decades, the development of nanofibers has shown the potential for wound dressing applications. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers containing chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP) and drug-loaded graphene oxide-magnetite (GO-Fe3O4) nanocomposites, synthesized by electrospining, were prepared for smart wound dressing for burn and diabetes wounds. In the first step, chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized using an ion-gel method. The optimum size of nanoparticles was determined to be 203 ± 51.29 nm, then graphene oxide-magnetite nanocomposite was prepared and tetracycline hydrochloride was loaded on the nanoparticles. The morphology of prepared nanofibers was investigated by electron scanning microscopy (SEM). The nano-fibers are of the appropriate diameter and without beads. The presence of nanoparticles in nanofibers has been confirmed by the transmission of electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). By analyzing degradation test and swelling degree measurements, we found that nanofiber membranes have high water absorption and low degradability. Diffusion diagrams of drug-containing nanofiber membranes show that the presence of chitosan nanoparticles and GO-Fe3O4 nanocomposites in nanofibers as carriers regulates drug release in nanofiber membranes. In the early hours of release, the presence of GO prevents the burst release. The presence of magnetite can be a stimulus for smart wounds. Also, the presence of chitosan nanoparticles causes continuous and slow release. The drug release kinetics was fitted to a First-order model which indicated that the amount of drug released is proportional to the amount of remaining drug in the matrix. Antimicrobial test showed that nanofiber membranes had good antimicrobial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. MTT cell test showed that nanofiber membranes high levels of compatibility.