Fibro-porous polycaprolactone membrane containing extracts of Biophytum sensitivum: A prospective antibacterial wound dressing
Abstract
A fibro-porous wound dressing with antibacterial activity was fabricated from polycaprolactone (PCL) solution containing crude extract of biophytum sensitivum (BS) a potential antibacterial herbal drug. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the smooth fibrous morphology of the PCL membrane, whereas the drug-loaded PCL formed fibers with more interconnective junctions with an average fiber diameter between 1 and 3 μm. Physical characterization of the membrane revealed that it has excellent mechanical stability, water vapor transmission rate and that it promotes water uptake. The release characteristics by total immersion method in phosphate buffer and acetate buffer displayed an increase in drug release with time. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the membrane was tested against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. PCL membranes loaded with the drug extracts were able to inhibit the growth of bacterial strains which indicated that this fibro-porous membrane could act as a potential wound-dressing material to treat various wounds. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
