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Berkant ADALI, et al. A NANOFIBER-BASED APPROACH AGAINST BIOFILM-ASSOCIATED CHRONIC WOUNDS: COMBINING PHYTOCHEMICALS FOR ENHANCED EFFICACY

The present study focused on the development and evaluation of electrospun nanofibers composed of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), incorporating cafeic acid (CA) as a natural phenolic compound with known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated using optimized electrospinning parameters and subsequently characterized through SEM, FT-IR, and DSC analyses. SEM imaging revealed that the addition of CA resulted in thinner fibers with diameters averaging 250–300 nm and a slightly rougher morphology compared to the smooth and bead-free structure observed in the neat PLA/PCL group. FT-IR confirmed the successful incorporation of CA into the polymer matrix, and DSC analysis indicated a slight shift in the melting temperature, suggesting interaction between CA and the polymer blend. Swelling and degradation tests showed that CA significantly reduced both the water absorption capacity and the degradation rate, which may be attributed to potential hydrogen bonding or matrix stabilization caused by CA. The in vitro release study conducted in PBS over 504 hours demonstrated a sustained release profile of CA, indicating the scaffold’s potential for prolonged therapeutic action. Additionally, the CA-loaded group exhibited approximately 12% inhibition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 biofilm formation, highlighting the antibiofilm potential of CA. These findings suggest that PLA/PCL nanofibers containing cafeic acid offer promising characteristics for use in wound healing applications, particularly in managing biofilm-associated infections.

Keywords: Electrospun nanofibers, cafeic acid, PLA/PCL, biofilm inhibition, wound dressing