Low cytotoxicity, antibacterial property, and curcumin delivery performance of toughness-enhanced electrospun composite membranes based on poly(lactic acid) and MAX phase (Ti3AlC2)

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 262; no. Pt 1; p. 129967
• Main Authors: Krasian, Tharnthip, Punyodom, Winita, Molloy, Robert, Topham, Paul D., Tighe, Brian J., Mahomed, Anisa, Chaiwarit, Tanpong, Panraksa, Pattaraporn, Rachtanapun, Pornchai, Jantanasakulwong, Kittisak, Worajittiphon, Patnarin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Curcumin; Drug delivery; Electrospun membrane; Low cytotoxicity; MAX phase; Poly(lactic acid); Poly(lactic acid); Drug delivery; Curcumin; MAX phase; Electrospun membrane; Low cytotoxicity
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129967

MXenes, synthesized from their precursor MAX phases, have been extensively researched as additives to enhance the drug delivery performance of polymer matrices, whereas there is a limited number of previous reports on the use of MAX phases themselves for such applications. The use of MAX phases can exclude the complicated synthesis procedure and lessen resultant production and environmental costs required to convert MAX phases to MXenes. Herein, electrospun membranes of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a MAX phase (Ti3AlC2) have been fabricated for curcumin delivery. The composite membrane exhibits significantly higher toughness (8.82 MJ m−3) than the plasticized PLA membrane (0.63 MJ m−3) with low cytotoxicity, supporting proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929 cells. The curcumin-loaded composite membrane exhibits high water vapor transmission (∼7350 g m−2 day−1), porosity (∼85 %), water wettability, and antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Seven-day curcumin release is enhanced from 45 % (PLA) to 67 % (composite) due to curcumin diffusion from the polymer fibers and MAX phase surface that contributes to overall increased curcumin adsorption and release sites. This work demonstrates the potential of the MAX phase to enhance both properties and curcumin delivery, promising for other eco-friendly systems for sustainable drug delivery applications. [Display omitted] •Use of a MAX phase (Ti3AlC2) is explored for drug delivery applications.•The MAX phase, as an additive in a PLA membrane, enhances curcumin release.•The MAX phase increases curcumin adsorption and release sites of the membrane.•PLA/MAX phase membrane is tough, water wettable, and highly porous.•The composite membrane has low cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.