Processing-structure-property relationships of oleanolic acid loaded PLGA fiber membranes

Oleanolic acid (OA) loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid fiber membranes were developed utilizing the Forcespinning technology. OA is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound available in fruits and vegetables and known for its plethora of biological activities. The incorporation of OA into polymeric fine fiber membranes opens promising potential applications for biomedical applications, such as a system for transdermal delivery of bioactive agents. In this study, nonwoven fiber membranes were developed with different concentrations of OA, and morphological, thermo-physical, and biological studies were conducted. Results show a high yield of fiber membranes with average fiber diameters ranging from 541 to 630 nm, depending on the concentration of OA. Developed membranes are composed of long and continuous fibers showing rough surfaces with stability in aqueous media. Thermo-physical analysis showed miscibility of the components and negligible effects of processing conditions on the structure and stability of the components. High drug loading efficiency (> 80%) was observed, and cellular studies indicated that the developed fiber membranes were not toxic to fibroblast cells. The structural and thermal stability and non-cytotoxic behavior of these membranes make them a promising potential vehicle for drug delivery applications.