Polycaprolactone-Gelatin Membranes in Controlled Drug Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

Abstract

Nanofibers are known as promising carriers for anticancer drug delivery, particularly in postoperative local chemotherapy, through surgical grafting the membrane. In this study, blends of poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and gelatin (Ge) at various polymeric proportions were used for electrospinning of the nanofibers containing the anticancer drug of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The electrospinning was performed at three different conditions to study the influence of processing parameters on the membrane properties. The morphology and tensile properties of the PCL-Ge nanofibers were reliant on the gelatin ratio and the processing condition. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) outcomes demonstrated that 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was well distributed in the fiber matrix, forming H-bonds and in an amorphous state. Weight loss measurements and drug release study showed much faster degradation, and 5-FU releasing from the nanofibers contained a higher amount of gelatin. Studying the cytotoxicity of the 5-FU-loaded nanofibers showed that the P70G30FU had well restrained the survive, attachment, and proliferation of HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, the 5-FU loaded PCL-Ge nanofibers have the ability of controlled drug release following the desired cancer treatment protocol.