Enhanced Antibacterial Polylactic Acid-Curcumin Nanofibers for Wound Dressing

Background

Wound healing is a complex physiological process that can be compromised by infection and impaired tissue regeneration. Conventional dressings, typically made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen, offer limited functionality. Nanofiber scaffolds, particularly those based on biocompatible polymers like PLA, provide high surface area and porosity, making them suitable for controlled drug delivery and tissue interaction.

Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. However, its use in wound care is limited by poor solubility and low bioavailability. CNTs offer complementary advantages: they possess intrinsic antibacterial activity and can improve the mechanical properties and drug release profiles of polymer-based systems.

This study investigates the integration of CNTs into PLA-curcumin nanofibers to create a multifunctional wound dressing capable of both structural support and infection control.

The Current Study

The dressing was produced using electrospinning, a technique suitable for fabricating nanofibers with controlled morphology. PLA (molecular weight: 203,000 g/mol) was dissolved in dichloromethane, followed by the addition of curcumin to ensure uniform dispersion. CNTs were incorporated at varying concentrations to assess their effects on the material’s structural and functional properties.

Electrospun nanofibers were collected using a standard setup with a controlled flow rate and fixed needle-to-collector distance. Characterization included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology. Tensile tests evaluated mechanical strength, while curcumin release profiles were analyzed through in vitro assays. Antibacterial performance was assessed using standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Results and Discussion

Incorporating CNTs significantly improved the mechanical strength and thermal stability of the PLA-curcumin nanofibers. Tensile testing showed that even small additions of CNTs enhanced tensile strength compared to pure PLA. Drug release studies confirmed a controlled and sustained release of curcumin, with the rate modulated by CNT concentration. This effect was attributed to changes in scaffold porosity and microstructure.

Antibacterial assays revealed that CNT-containing composites had a marked inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. The PLA-Cur-0.05 % CNT formulation showed the highest antibacterial activity, with a 78.95 % reduction in microbial growth. While curcumin alone showed limited antibacterial efficacy in the PLA matrix, CNTs appeared to support both dispersion and membrane-disruptive mechanisms, contributing to improved outcomes.

Water absorption tests further supported the composite’s suitability for wound care. While PLA alone exhibited high water uptake, the addition of curcumin and CNTs reduced this absorption. A more moderate water uptake profile is advantageous for managing exudates without compromising the mechanical integrity of the dressing.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the potential of CNT-enhanced PLA-curcumin nanofiber mats as multifunctional wound dressings. The combination of improved mechanical properties, antibacterial activity, and controlled drug release offers a promising platform for infection management and wound healing support. The design leverages nanostructure engineering to overcome the limitations of conventional materials and drug delivery systems.

Future research should explore in vivo performance, scalability, and further refinement of the composite formulation. Optimizing component ratios and evaluating long-term biocompatibility will be key steps toward clinical application.

Journal Reference

Faal M., et al. (2025). Fabrication and evaluation of polylactic acid-curcumin containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wound dressing using electrospinning method with experimental and computational approaches. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-98393-2, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98393-2