Chitosan/ferulic acid-coated poly(ε-caprolactone) electrospun materials with antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor properties.

Novel fibrous materials from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), chitosan (Ch) and natural phenolic acid ferulic acid (FA) of diverse design were successfully prepared by electrospinning or electrospinning combined with dip-coating. FA incorporated in the PCL fibrous mats or in the Ch coating was in the amorphous state as evidenced by the performed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The release of FA was affected by the composition and design of the polymer matrix. The incorporation of a combination of FA and Ch in the fibrous mats imparted to these materials higher killing rates against pathogenic bacteria S. aureus than that of FA-containing mats or Ch-coated mats alone. The FA-containing fibrous materials as well as those coated with Ch or Ch-FA inhibited the adhesion of S. aureus bacteria. Moreover, FA preserved its antioxidant activity when incorporated in the fibers or in the Ch coating. It was found that the cytotoxicity of all types of FA-containing mats against HeLa tumor cells was higher than that of the free FA. Thus, the obtained fibrous materials can be suitable candidates for wound dressing applications and for application in local treatment of cervical tumors.