Nanomaterial-based approaches for treatment of tympanic membrane perforations

Presented work focuses on the development of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with antibiotics as drug delivery systems deposited on electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering. Different techniques including modified double emulsion water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W)-solvent evaporation, nanoprecipitation (NP) and electrospray have been evaluated and optimized for manufacturing Ciprofloxacin-loaded PLGA and PCL NPs. Additionally, conventional electrospinning (ES) was chosen as suitable biofabrication technique to evaluate the incorporation of Ciprofloxacin-encapsulated NPs on tissue-engineered scaffolds. Moreover, an innovative simultaneous electrospinning/electrospray technique was exploited and optimized to reach a better distribution of the NPs over the electrospun mesh. Poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymer was used to construct the NP-loaded electrospun scaffold. Ciprofloxacin loaded PLGA and PCL NPs obtained showed high EE%, a narrow particle size distribution, and predictable controlled release properties, which would enable sustaining the antibiotic concentration at the site of action for enhancing the therapy. The current work shows that there is good potential for the application of antibiotic-loaded NP embedded nanofibers scaffolds for first-line therapy of tissue engineering. Presented data provide solid scientific evidence for fulfilling the requirements of local nano-antibiotic delivery systems with biodegradability and biocompatibility for a wide range of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, including tympanic ear membranes. Further characterization of such systems, including in vivo studies, are required to ensure successful transfer from lab to clinical applications