A Spironolactone-Based Prototype of an Innovative Biomedical Patch for Wound Dressing Applications

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Sep 5;25(17):9608. doi: 10.3390/ijms25179608.

Abstract

The electrospinning process is an effective technique for creating micro- and nanofibers from synthetic and natural polymers, with significant potential for biomedical applications and drug delivery systems due to their high drug-loading capacity, large surface area, and tunable release times. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) stands out for its excellent thermo-mechanical properties, biodegradability, and bioabsorbability. Electrospun PLLA nanofibrous structures have been extensively investigated as wound dressings, sutures, drug delivery carriers, and tissue engineering scaffolds. This study aims to create and characterize electrospun PLLA membranes loaded with spironolactone (SP), mimicking active compounds of Ganoderma lucidum (GL), to develop a biodegradable patch for topical wound-healing applications. GL, a medicinal mushroom, enhances dermal wound healing with its bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides and ganoderic acids. Focusing on GL extracts-obtained through green extraction methods-and innovative drug delivery, we created new fibers for wound-healing potential applications. To integrate complex mixtures of bioactive compounds into the fibers, we developed a prototype using a single pure substance representing the extract mixture. This painstaking work presents the results of the fabricating, wetting, moisture properties, material resilience, and full characterization of the product, providing a robust rationale for the fabrication of fibers imbued with more complex extracts.

Keywords: Ganoderma lucidum; biomedical dressing; drug release; electrospun fibers; wound healing.

MeSH terms

  • Bandages*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Humans
  • Nanofibers / chemistry
  • Polyesters* / chemistry
  • Reishi / chemistry
  • Spironolactone* / chemistry
  • Wound Healing* / drug effects

Substances

  • Spironolactone
  • Polyesters
  • poly(lactide)

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.