Nanoparticle-mediated polycaprolactone based nanofiber mats for enhanced apoptosis of breast cancer cell line with improved cell viability of fibroblast cell line: Controlled drug release and antimicrobial assay

Drug loaded nanofiber mats empowered with nanoparticle attracted the clinicians for profound cancer therapy alongside growth controlling effect towards microbial infections. Nanoscale silver oxide (Ag2O, <10 nm) decorated with methyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol in polycaprolactone nanofiber mats were successfully fabricated via electrospinning technique. The loaded anticancer drug (5-fluorouracil) in the mats was released in controlled manner for a span of two weeks. The anticancer activity and apoptosis assay revealed that the breast cancer cell line was effectively eradicated by releasing ∼15% drug in 24 h and showed profound cell viability against fibroblast cell line. Furthermore, the probable post-surgical microbial infections were also strongly inhibited by the nanofiber mats. Earlier, the particle size, nature and morphology of Ag2O nanoparticle were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD pattern and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The nanofiber mats were characterized by FTIR spectra and XRD patterns to establish the hydrogen bonding and coordinate covalent bond interactions, and surface morphology by topographical examinations. The hydrophilicity by contact angle measurements and mechanical properties for the mats were also tested. Zero order kinetics was followed and controlled-diffusion mechanism was identified by Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model. From the observed results, it was clearly revealed that the fabricated nanofiber mats would act as a promising candidate for drug delivery and tissue engineering implants.