Combined metronidazole delivery from a WS2–halloysite nanotube-loaded electrospun cellulose acetate membrane supported by a 3D-printed PLA/cassava fiber mesh

Abstract

Wound dressings derived from natural resources are increasingly of interest for good health and well-being. Here, an electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) composite membrane (E) was developed as a topical drug carrier for sustained delivery, enabled by incorporating tungsten disulfide (WS<inf>2</inf>) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT). To improve mechanical robustness and support industry innovation in advanced biomedical manufacturing, a dual-layer system (3D/E) was fabricated by electrospinning the E membrane onto a 3D-printed poly(lactic acid)/cassava fiber mesh. With the mesh as a backing layer, 3D/E exhibited higher dry-state tensile strength (6.0 ± 0.2 MPa) and Young's modulus (302 ± 12 MPa) than E alone (0.8 ± 0.1 MPa and 22 ± 3 MPa, respectively). 3D/E maintained thermal integrity over typical service temperatures and showed no degradation up to 150 οC. Metronidazole (MET) release from MET-loaded CA-based samples was biphasic; notably, 3D/E/MET showed a slower initial release (0–6 h) and higher cumulative release (∼74–93%) over 48 h than CA/MET (∼72–77%), attributed to the combined effects of WS<inf>2</inf> and HNT. In a PrestoBlue™ assay, human adipose-derived stem cells on 3D/E/MET showed a time-dependent increase in viability from Day 1 (∼44%) to Day 5 (∼75%), indicating recovery over time. Antibacterial testing showed a moderate reduction against Staphylococcus aureus at 24 h (13.76 ± 0.11 log CFU/mL) versus the control (14.92 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL). Overall, 3D/E offers improved mechanical and thermal performance with extended MET release and moderate in vitro antibacterial activity, supporting further evaluation for wound healing applications.