Development of coaxial alginate-PCL nanofibrous dressing for controlled release of <i>Spirulina</i> extract

Abstract

Spirulina has widely been highlighted as a source of bioactive material that can be impregnated into dressing materials. The aim of this study was to widen the application fields of Spirulina extract-containing nanofiber, which has been suggested as an attractive dressing material in several previous studies. The bioactivity release pattern, water absorbance, and mechanical strength must be controllable. Spirulina extract was physically impregnated inside a nanofiber without significant chemical bonding to polycaprolactone or alginate polymers. This led to an initial burst and continual release of bioactive molecules from the nanofiber. By altering the concentration of Spirulina extract, mechanical strength and water absorbance were controllable. In addition, the dressing patch showed no cytotoxicity towards human epithelial cells, not causing skin-irritation. This indicates that the coaxially fabricated patch is a controllable dressing material that can be customized to have a specific mechanical strength, water absorbance, and bioactive release pattern, making it suitable for wide applications.