Izdelava in vrednotenje fizikalne stabilnosti nanovlaken na osnovi polietilenoksida in alginata za oskrbo ran

Sazonov, Lana (author), Kocbek, Petra (mentor), Potrč, Tanja (comentor)

Na področju oskrbe ran predstavljajo nanovlakna obetaven biomaterial, zlasti v obliki naprednih oblog. Zaradi svoje nanostrukture, velike poroznosti mreže nanovlaken in podobnosti morfologije nanovlaken s strukturnimi elementi zunajceličnega ogrodja ustvarjajo ugodno mikrookolje za celično adhezijo, proliferacijo in regeneracijo tkiva. Poleg tega omogočajo učinkovito vgradnjo bioaktivnih spojin ter njihovo ciljno in nadzorovano sproščanje, kar še povečuje njihovo uporabnost v tkivnem inženirstvu in oskrbi ran. V raziskavi smo razvijali elektrostatsko sukana nanovlakna na osnovi polietilenoksida in natrijevega alginata (1:1, m/m) za uporabo pri oskrbi ran. Za povečanje stabilnosti nanovlaken smo v osnovno raztopino polimerov dodali od 0,5 do 2 % (m/V) raztopino kalcijevega klorida tako, da je bil njegov delež v končni raztopini za elektrostatsko sukanje 1,5 % (m/m). Ugotovili smo, da je bila raztopina polimera z dodatkom 1,5 % (m/V) raztopine kalcijevega klorida še procesibilna in je omogočala tvorbo morfološko pravilnih nanovlaken, medtem ko pri 2 % (m/V) raztopini kalcijevega klorida produkt elektrostatskega sukanja ni imel značilne vlaknaste strukture. Stabilnost nanovlaken v vodnem okolju je bila odvisna od stopnje premreženja vlaken. Nanovlakna brez kalcijevega klorida ali z majhno vsebnostjo kalcijevega klorida so po stiku z vodo hitro izgubila vlaknasto morfologijo, medtem ko so nanovlakna z 1 % ali 1,5 % (m/V) raztopino kalcijevega klorida ob izpostavitvi vodnemu mediju (1 kapljica) delno ohranila strukturo. Po daljšem stiku z vodnim medijem noben vzorec nanovlaken ni ohranil morfologije, kar kaže na omejeno obstojnost nanovlaken v vodnem okolju. Učinkovitost vgradnje zdravilne učinkovine je bila pri nepremreženih nanovlaknih visoka (~100 %), medtem ko je bila pri premreženih nanovlaknih nekoliko nižja (~70 %) ter bolj variabilna. Sproščanje zdravilne učinkovine je bilo pri nepremreženih nanovlaknih hitrejše, saj se je večina učinkovine sprostila že v prvih 30 min (~87 %), nato pa se je delež sproščene učinkovine stabiliziral. Pri premreženih nanovlaknih je bilo sproščanje počasnejše in je postopno naraščalo od 67,9 % po 5 minutah do 82,6 % po 120 minutah. Premreževanje z 1,5 % (m/V) raztopino kalcijevega klorida je nekoliko upočasnilo začetno sproščanje zdravilne učinkovine, vendar je bil delež sproščene učinkovine po 120 minutah še vedno velik (82,6 %), kar nakazuje potrebo po nadaljnji optimizaciji formulacije, da bi dosegli podaljšano sproščanje vgrajene zdravilne učinkovine.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: elektrostatsko sukanje, nanovlakna, natrijev alginat, polietilenoksid, rane, stabilnost
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182792
• Publication date in RUL: 23.05.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Preparation and physical stability characterization of polyethylene oxide/alginate nanofibers for wound management

Abstract

In the field of wound care, nanofibers represent a promising biomaterial, particularly in the form of advanced dressings. Due to their nanoscale structure, high network porosity, and similarity of nanofiber morphology to the structural elements of the extracellular matrix, they create a favorable microenvironment for cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. Furthermore, they enable efficient incorporation of bioactive compounds and their targeted and controlled release, which further increases their applicability in tissue engineering and wound management. In this study, we developed electrospun nanofibers based on polyethylene oxide and sodium alginate (1:1, w/w) for use in wound care. To increase nanofiber stability, 0,5–2 % (w/v) calcium chloride solution was added to the base polymer solution so that its proportion in the final electrospinning solution was 1,5 % (w/w). We found that the polymer solution containing 1,5 % (w/v) calcium chloride was still processable and allowed the formation of morphologically correct nanofibers, whereas at 2 % (w/v) calcium chloride solution, the electrospun product did not exhibit the characteristic fibrous structure. Nanofiber stability in aqueous environments depended on the degree of fiber crosslinking. Nanofibers without calcium chloride or with low calcium chloride content rapidly lost their fibrous morphology upon contact with water, whereas nanofibers with 1 % or 1,5 % (w/v) calcium chloride solution partially retained their structure upon exposure to an aqueous medium (one droplet). After prolonged exposure to aqueous medium, no nanofiber sample preserved its morphology, indicating the limited stability of nanofibers in water. The efficiency of drug incorporation was high in non-crosslinked nanofibers (~100 %), while in crosslinked nanofibers it was slightly lower (~70 %) and more variable. Drug release from non-crosslinked nanofibers was faster, as most of the active compound was released within the first 30 minutes (~87 %), after which the released fraction stabilized. In crosslinked nanofibers, release was slower and gradually increased from 67,9 % at 5 minutes to 82,6 % at 120 minutes. Crosslinking with 1,5 % (w/v) calcium chloride solution slightly slowed the initial drug release, but the cumulative fraction released after 120 minutes remained high (82,6 %), indicating the need for further formulation optimization to achieve prolonged release of the incorporated drug.

• Keywords: electrospinning, nanofibers, sodium alginate, polyethylene oxide, wounds, stability