Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is gaining recognition as a promising alternative method for the treatment of diverse biomedical applications. Toward this goal, we report herein the fabrication of an electrospun membrane utilizing polycaprolactone (PCL), and a phthalocyanine derivative, namely 1,4,8,11,15,22,25-octabutyloxy-29H,31-phthalocyanine (OBuPc). The designed OBuPc-PCL membrane aims to function as a dressing with the potential to facilitate the management of wound healing. The absorption and fluorescence studies of OBuPc have been examined by the steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence techniques. From direct detection of the weak emission of the singlet oxygen in the NIR region (at 1270 nm), the quantum yield of singlet oxygen was determined to be 0.05. The physiochemical properties of the nanofibers and membranes that were prepared were determined. The photo-activity of all the modified PCL nanofibers against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli was observed. The PCL/4.8 OBuPc nanofiber exhibited the highest effectiveness, primarily attributed to the enhanced effect of photosensitizer OBuPc as its concentration increased within the fibre. This resulted in S. aureus bacterial inhibition% of 62.5% ± 0.38 and 78.5% ± 0.49 after exposure to near infrared emission NIR at 630 nm for 15 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. The inhibition of E. coli bacteria was observed to be 51.51% ± 0.49 and 62.44% ± 0.12% after exposure to near infrared (NIR) emission at a wavelength of 630 nm for durations of 15 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. Additionally, it was observed that the membranes displayed dark bacterial inhibition. These unique features of the examined nanofibers render them a potential photodynamic antibacterial nanofiber membrane for efficient wound healing treatment and practical antibacterial uses.