Synthesis and characterization of tigecycline-loaded sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite fibers via electrospinning as antibacterial wound dressings

Abstract This study reported on the performance of tigecycline-loaded sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite fibers (TC-SS/PVA) via electrospinning technology for wound dressing applications. The aim of this study was to develop antibacterial electrospun fibers with good compatibility and to demonstrate their applications as wound dressings. The composite fibers showed smooth and uniform morphology with an average diameter of 356 ± 5.98 nm. TC-SS/PVA exhibited suitable porosity, mechanical property and water vapor transmission rate. In drug release profile, as much as 75% of tigecycline was released from TC-SS/PVA after 100 min of incubation. The encapsulation efficiency of tigecycline in sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite fibers during the electrospinning process was 84.25%. The composite fibers also had satisfactory antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. In vivo wound healing tests, TC-SS/PVA accelerated the healing rate of wound in comparison with other groups. The results indicate that tigecycline-loaded sericin/PVA composite electrospun fibers could be potentially used as novel antibacterial wound dressings.