Healing potential of neomycin-loaded electrospun nanofibers against burn wounds

Background: Wound healing is a serious therapeutic and economic challenge in regenerative medicines. It is a complex interplay of multiple biomolecules and pathways. Objective: The goal of this work was to fabricate neomycin (Ne)-loaded electrospun nanofibers of carrageenan, polyacrylonitrile, and pullulan (CG/PAN/PU) for skin wound healing, specifically burn wounds. CG/PAN/PU/Ne nanofibers were characterized structurally using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). As a wound dressing for a full-thickness skin lesion, the effect of CG/PAN/PU/Ne nanofibers on the wound-healing process was examined in the rabbits. Results: Nanofiber's surface was rough. TGA results showed that drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers were more stable as compared to drug-free nanofibers. The whole amount of drug release was achieved in 120–150 min. The visual inspection showed that the rabbit wounds treated with drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers were healed within 14 days and that drug-free nanofibers within 17 days. The histopathological results showed a greater healing potential of CG/PAN/PU/Ne nanofibers as compared to the positive control (Quench®) and negative control (Surgical gauze). The results of antibacterial activities of CG/PAN/PU fabricated nanofibers against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis revealed that the CG/PAN/PU/Ne nanofibers had more potential against Gram-negative bacteria as compared to Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusion: The CG/PAN/PU nanofibers have a promising potential for wound healing with and without antibiotic.