Multifunctional sandwiched fiber membrane: the correlations between shape memory performance, drug release behavior, and antibacterial activity
摘要
Integrating shape memory polymers (SMPs) with controlled drug release and antibacterial functionalities is an interesting approach to achieve more benefits from materials in biomedical applications. In this study, these functionalities were converged in a sandwiched membrane consisting of three layers: (1) two outer layers were electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber crosslinked by graphene oxide (GO) and benzophenone and (2) the inner layer was electrospun PCL fibers containing GO, polyethylene glycol, and berberine (BBR) as a therapeutic drug. Because of physical and chemical crosslinking formed in PCL fibers using GO and BP agents, the morphology, crystalline degree, and thermal properties were modulated, resulting in better shape memory performance. The sandwiched membrane achieved a significantly higher recovery ratio (70.73 ± 4.56) than the PCL fiber membrane (23.67 ± 0.62). The drug release behavior of BBR from the composite membranes was controlled by the structure design and shape memory program. The BBR released from the sandwiched PGB/PGPB/PGB membrane after 8 h was 45.2 wt%, notably lower than that from the mono-layer PGP/BBR fiber membrane (64.2%). The greater deformation ratios during the shape memory program resulted in higher drug release, thus allowing modulation of the drug concentration according to therapeutic requirements. Similarly, the antibacterial activity of the sandwiched membrane was enhanced by increasing the deformation ratio. The prepared sandwiched membranes are promising smart materials for multifunctional biomedical applications.