Drug loading, drug release and in vitro degradation of poly(caprolactone) electrospun fibers

In this study, model drug of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate-Dextran (FD70S) was incorporated into poly(caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun fibers. Drug loading was successful and drug release was measured by using microplate reader. The result showed FD70S was successfully released from PCL electrospun fibers. In order to investigate the biodegradable ability of PCL electrospun fibers, in vitro degradation was investigated for 107 days by immersing PCL electrospun fibers in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) which mimics extracellular fluid. Electrospun fibers degraded slowly and were not fully degraded. Fibers became more random and the average fiber diameters decreased from 350 nm to 240 nm after degradation of 107 days.