Development of a triaxial composite nanofiber wound dressing for controlled drug release

In product development for special applications, traditional materials may be insufficient to meet requirements. In contrast, composites obtained by combining different or similar types of materials are preferred because they can offer multiple properties simultaneously, the required properties can be adjusted with process parameters, and they can provide economical solutions. In this study, a new triaxial nozzle was designed, and nanofiber composite wound dressings containing different types of support materials (metal oxide (nano-ZnO), clay (bentonite), and natural fiber (fiber obtained from tea waste)) were developed using the electrospinning technique. The support material was placed in the middle layer of the triaxial structure. The produced nanofiber composite wound dressings were evaluated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to compare the nanofiber diameter, the presence of the triaxial structure, and the chemical bonds in the structure. It was determined that the nanofiber surfaces exhibit hydrophilic properties. Additionally, tensile tests were conducted on the prepared composite wound dressings to assess their mechanical strength. The effect of the support material in the composite on the release of the model drug located in the innermost layer of the triaxial nanofiber design was investigated. The findings revealed that the composite wound dressing containing natural fiber from tea waste exhibited higher tensile strength, controlled drug release performance, and a higher percentage of viability compared to composites containing other support materials.