Preparation and Characterization of the PLA: GA: ZnO Nanofibers-Based Drug Delivery System

The production and development of drug-loaded nanofibers by electrospinning are interesting because of their use as scaffolds in drug-delivery system applications. In the present study, Preparing the 50:50 polylactic acid: Gelatin and ZnO nanoparticles (PLA: GA: ZnO) scaffold nanofibers for loading the anti-inflammatory drugs naproxen and meloxicam at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt. % of each drug. The morphology results measured by scanning electron microscopy showed significantly increased diameters by 556±427, 566±437, and 1298±723 nm for 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3wt.% for naproxen, respectively compared with 352±245 nm for PLA: GA: ZnO. While the meloxicam revealed nanofibers with smaller diameters; the respective diameters for the ratios 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% were 327 ± 163 nm, 312 ± 156 nm, and 333 ± 209 nm. Zinc oxide increases the crystal size, while the loaded drugs improve the degree of crystallization. Consequently, the fibers turn into a low-crystalline structure. FTIR spectroscopy results indicated no chemical interaction between the polymers. Moreover, adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to the blend polymer fibers increased the surface's free energy by 56.31±1.69 mJ.m-2 and reduced the contact angle to 83.16 ± 2.49°. Conversely, both naproxen and meloxicam increased the contact angle and reduced the surface's free energy, reaching values of 116.14 ± 3.48°, 114.4 ± 3.43°, 37.05±1.11 mJ.m-2, and 38.78±1.16 mJ.m-2 In addition, the drugs accelerate the thermal degradation of the polymer matrix. The maximum cumulative release for drug samples at 21 days was 97.62±4.88%, and 93.75±4.53 % for NAP and MEL respectively, while 87.24±4.24% for PLA: GA: ZnO. The kinetic model for samples showed the Korsmeyer-Peppas more suitable in this study, the burst release of 60.66% and 55.67% drugs from NAP and MEL Nano fibrous formulations was observed during the first 24 h. The diffusion coefficient (n) values of all nanofiber samples were found to be n < 0.45, confirming that the drug release mechanism follows Fickian diffusion. Naproxen produced a diameter of inhibition zones (MIC) at a stuck solution (MIC1000) of 17± 3.7 mm against S. aureus and 16±3.1 mm against E. coli, while meloxicam showed MIC1000 of 18±3.4 mm and 17±3.7 mm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. All dilution ratios of the drug solutions showed antibacterial activity. All samples showed no cytotoxicity, with cell viability ranging from 81% to 98.5%, confirming their biocompatibility. In addition, the naproxen showed the low half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value indicates that the drug is effective at low concentrations. The statistical analysis of all samples (P< 0.05)