Dual-Loaded Poly(-caprolactone) Nanofibers for Wound Healing Applications: Co-Delivery of Clindamycin and Propolis Extract for Synergistic Therapeutic Effects

The wound healing process has long been a focal point within the medical community due to its significant implications. Combining bioactive compounds with chemical drugs concurrently not only mitigates the risk of drug resistance but also enhances the healing process. Herein, the study emphasizes enhancing wound healing by co-delivering clindamycin (CM) and propolis extract (Ps) through poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers (NFs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the uniform and continuous structure of nanofibers with diameters of 155.7 +/- 52.8 nm, 163.3 +/- 51.4 nm, 167.8 +/- 73.3 nm, and 152.2 +/- 39 nm for PCL, PCL/CM, PCL/Ps, and PCL/CM-Ps, respectively. Successful loading of CM and Ps was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Dual-loaded nanofibers exhibited improved mechanical properties compared to neat PCL. The nanofibers demonstrated favorable porosity, swelling behavior, and water vapor transmission rate. Degradation studies indicated gentle degradation rates with minimal morphological changes. Clindamycin exhibited controlled release from PCL/CM nanofibers, contrasting with propolis extract from PCL/Ps nanofibers. The nanofibers were found to be biocompatible, supporting cell growth and proliferation. Additionally, they offered cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress, with CM-Ps-loaded nanofibers showing the highest cell viability. Hemolysis tests confirmed the blood compatibility of all nanofibers. This co-delivery strategy via PCL nanofibers presents a promising approach for synergistic therapeutic effects in wound healing applications.