Functionalization of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanofibrous membranes with antibiofilm compounds

The aim of this research was to investigate the activity of functionalized PLGA electrospun membranes in preventing Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation. PLGA nanofibres were functionalized with the additives Melaleuca alternifolia and Coffea canephora essential oils, furan-2(5H)-one, and a novel synthetic butyrolactam, in three concentrations (0.002%, 0.004%, and 0.008% w/v). Samples were characterized by SEM, FTIR-ATR, and GC-MS and exposed to S. mutans cultures. Planktonic growth was determined following a 24 and 48-h incubation period by spectrophotometry and the biofilm formation was evaluated by counting colony forming units. Cytotoxicity of the new biomaterials was assessed by MTS assay, through the quantification of viable placenta-derived stem cells grown over the functionalized nanofibrous membranes. Observation of the electrospun membranes on SEM images revealed the smooth and bead-free morphology of the nanofibres. No solvent residues were observed by FTIR-ATR, but the GC-MS results showed that N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide were present as residues in the membranes after functionalization. Functionalization reduced bacterial attachment to membrane surfaces, with best results being obtained for M. alternifolia essential oil, furanone, and butyrolactam. Cytotoxicity results showed that furan-2(5H)-one-functionalized membranes demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the cell viability compared to the control membranes.