1
Return

Multifunctional Electrospun PCL/Starch/n-Al2O3 Nanocomposites: Potential Antibacterial Wound Dressing Applications

delete2026-08-14
delete0
delete
OA
AI
F
Felipe Gutiérrez
D
Diana Ginette Zárate-Triviño
F
Francisco A. Cataño
A
Alexander Córdoba
M
Marcela Saavedra
E
Esmeralda Lopez Toro
A
Aline Alfaro
E
Eliana Rodríguez
J
Jennifer Leos
S
Sebastián Zapata
P
Pedro A. Orihuela *
P
Paula A. Zapata *
DOI:10.3390/ijms27167117delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Multifunctional polymer scaffolds with mechanical support, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity are key for next-generation biomedical materials. We report the fabrication of electrospun nanocomposite fibers made from polycaprolactone (PCL), starch, and mesoporous aluminum oxide nanoparticles (n-Al2O3). Nanoparticles (11 ± 4 nm) were synthesized via a sol-gel method, predominantly comprising γ- and α-Al2O3 phases. Four fiber systems were fabricated by side-by-side electrospinning: PCL, PCL/starch, PCL/n-Al2O3, and PCL/starch/n-Al2O3. SEM analysis confirmed uniform and bead-free fibers in all formulations. Tensile tests showed that the incorporation of starch and nanoparticles improved the mechanical performance compared with neat PCL. In particular, PCL/starch/n-Al2O3 fibers exhibited increases of 404% in Young’s modulus and 102% in elongation at break. In PBS, starch and n-Al2O3 enhanced hydrophilicity and accelerated weight loss, with PCL/starch/n-Al2O3 showing the highest mass loss. Antibacterial tests indicated that only fibers with nanoparticles could inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with PCL/starch/n-Al2O3 showing a major effect. Although n-Al2O3 increased cytotoxicity toward NIH-3T3, starch mitigated this effect, and the ternary scaffold showed no detectable cytotoxicity. Moreover, PCL/starch/n-Al2O3 exhibited non-hemolytic behavior, enhanced fibroblast migration, and wound-healing-related protein expression. Overall, side-by-side electrospun PCL/starch/n-Al2O3 scaffold exhibited showed improved mechanical, biological, and antibacterial properties, supporting its potential as a wound-dressing material.
Keywords:
side-by-side electrospun fibers
polycaprolactone
starch
Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles
wound dressing
antibacterial activity

Journal

International Journal of Molecular Sciences cover
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
IF:
4.9
Papers:
1.9W
Citations:
44.5W

Organization

U
universidad escuela de ingenieria de antioquia
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
A
Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon
Scholars:
72
Papers: 15
Citations: 0
U
Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Scholars:
4.0K
Papers: 3.3K
Citations: 3.6K
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers