Preparation of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)/polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibres as thermoresponsive drug delivery systems in wound dressing

Abstract

A thermo-sensitive film composed of polycaprolactone and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) was fabricated via electrospinning, with ketoconazole as the model drug. The morphology, elemental composition, and surface hydrophilicity of the nanofibres were characterized, and the results showed that nanofibres switched from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic state as the temperature increased from 25 °C to 37 °C. The drug release profiles of the films suggested that sustained drug release behavior was achieved, and a lower temperature induced a faster delivery. Therefore, the prepared nanofibres could be highly applicable as wound dressings for on-demand and sustained drug release systems based on their temperature-responsive properties.