Silk Fibroin‐Based Fibrous Anal Fistula Plug with Drug Delivery Function

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience 2018-04, Vol.18 (4), p.e1700384-n/a
• Main Authors: Xie, Xusheng, Liu, Lei, Zheng, Zhaozhu, Han, Zhifen, Zhi, Min, Kaplan, David L., Li, Gang, Wang, Xiaoqin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5‐aminosalicylic acid; anal fistula; Braiding; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; coaxial electrospinning; Conformation; Crohn Disease - drug therapy; Crohn Disease - pathology; Crohn's disease; Curcumin; Curcumin - administration & dosage; Curcumin - chemistry; Curcumin - pharmacology; Cytotoxicity; Drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Liberation - drug effects; Drugs; Encapsulation; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Fibroins - chemistry; Fibroins - pharmacology; Fistula; Fistulae; Humans; Medical treatment; Membranes; Membranes - chemistry; Mesalamine - chemistry; Mesalamine - pharmacology; Random coil; Rectal Fistula - drug therapy; Rectal Fistula - pathology; Silk; Silk fibroin; Toxicity; Viability
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201700384

The aim of this work is to develop a drug‐loaded silk fibroin fibrous membrane (DSFM) that can be attached to the surface of an anal fistula plug to improve the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Curcumin (CUR) and 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA)‐loaded silk fibroin (SF) membranes are coaxially electrospun onto the surface of a braided silk filament plug. The membranes show a predominant structure of random coil and silk I conformation. The concentration of CUR/5‐ASA (weight ratio of 1/1) in the SF solution is optimized to 0.4, 0.9, and 1.9 wt%. The morphologies, secondary structures, and in vitro drug release properties of the membranes are examined. Sectional images of fibers in the membranes show core–shell structures. The coaxial electrospinning process does not alter the chemical characteristics of the drugs. The dual‐drugs encapsulated in the membranes are released in a steady and sustainable manner, and the cumulative release rate is improved by the increased drug loading. The membranes exhibit no cytotoxicity, thereafter increase the viability of human fibroblasts on the DSFMs. These SF membranes with core–shell structure and functional encapsulation of CUR and 5‐ASA should be useful for further studies toward the treatment of CD. Crohn's disease is a serious bowel disease. Hence, it is important to treat and control this disease. This paper describes a drug‐loaded silk fibroin membrane that can be attached to the surface of an anal fistula plug. The membrane with core–shell structure and functional encapsulation of drugs shall be useful for further studies toward the treatment of Crohn's disease.