Molecules (Apr 2021)

Propolis-Based Nanofiber Patches to Repair Corneal Microbial Keratitis

  • Songul Ulag,
  • Elif Ilhan,
  • Ramazan Demirhan,
  • Ali Sahin,
  • Betul Karademir Yilmaz,
  • Burak Aksu,
  • Mustafa Sengor,
  • Denisa Ficai,
  • Aurel Mihail Titu,
  • Anton Ficai,
  • Oguzhan Gunduz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092577
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 9
p. 2577

Abstract

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In this research, polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)/gelatin (GEL)/propolis (Ps) biocompatible nanofiber patches were fabricated via electrospinning technique. The controlled release of Propolis, surface wettability behaviors, antimicrobial activities against the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and biocompatibility properties with the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated in detail. By adding 0.5, 1, and 3 wt.% GEL into the 13 wt.% PVA, the morphological and mechanical results suggested that 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL patch can be an ideal matrix for 3 and 5 wt.% propolis addition. Morphological results revealed that the diameters of the electrospun nanofiber patches were increased with GEL (from 290 nm to 400 nm) and Ps addition and crosslinking process cause the formation of thicker nanofibers. The tensile strength and elongation at break enhancement were also determined for 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL/3 wt.% Ps patch. Propolis was released quickly in the first hour and arrived at a plateau. Cell culture and contact angle results confirmed that the 3 wt.% addition of propolis reinforced mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and wettability properties of the patches. The antimicrobial activity demonstrated that propolis loaded patches had antibacterial activity against the S. aureus, but for P. aeruginosa, more studies should be performed.

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