Electrospun matrices for localised controlled drug delivery: Release of tetracycline hydrochloride from layers of polycaprolactone and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)

We report the controlled release of tetracycline (Tet) HCl from a three-layered electrospun matrix for the first time. Five formulations of electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) have been designed, prepared as micro/nanofibre layers, and assayed for the controlled release of the clinically useful antibiotic Tet HCl with potential applications in wound healing and especially in complicated skin and skin-structure infections. Tet HCl was also chosen as a model drug possessing a good ultraviolet (UV) chromophore and capable of fluorescence together with limited stability. Tet HCl was successfully incorporated (essentially quantitatively at 3 %, w/w) and provided controlled release from multilayered electrospun matrices. The Tet HCl release test was carried out by a total immersion method on 2 × 2 cm² electrospun fibrous mats in Tris or phosphate-buffered saline heated to 37 °C. The formulation PCL/PEVA/PCL with Tet HCl in each layer gave a large initial (burst) release followed by a sustained release. Adding a third layer to the two-layered formulations led to release being sustained from 6 days to more than 15 days. There was no detectable loss of Tet chemical stability (as shown by UV and NMR) or bioactivity (as shown by a modified Kirby-Bauer disc assay). Using Tet HCl-sensitive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), the Tet HCl-loaded three-layered matrix formulations were still showing significantly higher antibacterial effects on days 4 and 5 than commercially available Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Discs of Tet HCl. Electrospinning provides good encapsulation efficiency of Tet HCl within PCL/PEVA/PCL polymers in micro/nanofibre layers which display sustained antibiotic release.