Development of novel electrospun dual-drug fiber mats loaded with a combination of ampicillin and metronidazole

ObjectiveOur study was performed with the aim of preparing electrospun polylactide fibers with a combination of ampicillin (AMP) and metronidazole (MNZ) and investigating their drug release behavior and the antibacterial effect on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and other oral pathogens.MethodsAMP and MNZ were integrated as a combination in two separate fibers (dual fiber mats – DFW mix) of electrospun PLA fiber mats by means of multijet electrospinning and in a single fiber (single fiber mats – SFW mix). HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) was used to measure the released drug quantities. Agar diffusion tests were used to determine the antibacterial effect of the eluates on A. actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Enterococcus faecalis. The neutral red test was made to examine the cytocompatibility of the eluates with human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs).ResultsThe release of the active agents varied with the antibiotic concentrations initially used in the fiber mats, but also with the distribution of the active agents in one or two fibers. Of the total quantity of MNZ (AMP), the SFW mix fiber mats released >60% (>70%) within a span of 5 min, and 76% (71%) after 96 h. With these drug concentrations released by the fiber mats (≥5 m%), an antibacterial effect was achieved on A. actinomycetemcomitans and on all other species tested. Fiber mats and their eluates have no cytotoxic influence on human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs).SignificanceElectrospun AMP/MNZ-loaded polymer fibers are a potential drug delivery system for use in periodontal and endodontic infections.