Fabrication and Characterization of Bilayered Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffold Based on Polycaprolactone Containing Azithromycin and Tadalafil for Wound Healing Application Publisher

Summary: Can a two-layer dressing fight infection and speed healing? In wound models, antibiotic and tadalafil nanofibers improved closure and tissue repair. #WoundHealing #Nanofibers

Taymouri S ; Barzekouhi M M ; Hashemnia M ; Minaiyan M ; Mohammadi N
Source: Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology Published:2027

Abstract

A bilayer electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing was developed to promote tissue regeneration while preventing bacterial infection. The inner layer consisted of tadalafil (TDL) loaded polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GT) nanofibers designed to enhance wound healing, while the outer layer comprised azithromycin (AZM) loaded PCL nanofibers to provide antibacterial protection. The TDL loaded sublayer was optimized using an irregular factorial design by evaluating the effects of polymer concentration, gelatin content, applied voltage, and drug content. An increase in polymer concentration resulted in larger fiber diameters, whereas higher applied voltage reduced the fiber diameter. Increasing gelatin content significantly improved swelling behavior and drug release efficiency. The optimized formulation produced uniform, bead-free nanofibers with a mean fiber diameter of 174.1 ± 44.6 nm, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 84.62 ± 2.37%, and drug loading (DL) of 8.46 ± 0.23%. The AZM loaded outer layer exhibited a smooth morphology with an average fiber diameter of 278.6 ± 47.9 nm, an EE of 75.00 ± 1.61%, and DL% of 9.22 ± 0.34%. In vitro release studies demonstrated an initial burst release followed by sustained drug release for both drugs. Antibacterial testing confirmed strong activity of the dual drug scaffold against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . In vivo evaluation using a rat excisional wound model showed that the AZM + TDL loaded bilayer nanofibers significantly accelerated wound closure, enhanced epithelial regeneration, promoted organized collagen deposition, and improved vascular remodeling compared to other treatment groups. Overall, the bilayer nanofibrous scaffold demonstrates strong potential as an advanced wound dressing combining antibacterial activity with enhanced tissue regeneration. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.