Design of drug eluting core-shell nanofiber coated trachea stent for prevention of inflammation-induced fibrotic tissue formation

초록

In this study, we investigated doxycycline-eluting nanofiber-covered endotracheal stent. Core-shell nanofiber was fabricated with co-axial electrospun system. Poly (DL-lactide) and polyurethane were, respectively, selected for shell and core forming materials. For the study, monolithic nanofiber and core-shell nanofiber with different core-shell thickness ratios were fabricated, and introduced to in vitro characterization studies. SEM and TEM image proved well-structured core-shell nanofiber. Core-shell thickness was adjustable with changing the coaxial flow rates. We also studied the fluorescence materials loaded nanofibers characterized with microscopic analysis to distinguish with core-shell morphology and it exhibited the bilayer of nanofiber. Drug release from the core-shell nanofibers was observed over the period of 120 hrs. Core-shell nanofiber membrane showed the controlled release of doxycycline. Meanwhile single nanofiber showed the burst and maximum release within the short time. Further in vivo rabbit trachea implantation study, doxycycline-eluting nanofibers stent successfully inhibited a fibro vascular formation surrounding trachea tissue. Our study demonstrated that the doxycycline eluting core-shell nanofiber stent was successfully fabricated and showed the clinical potential for intra-tracheal stents.