Drug-Loaded Halloysite Nanotube-Reinforced Electrospun Alginate-Based Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Sustained Antimicrobial Protection.

Halloysite nanotube (HNT)-reinforced alginate-based nanofibrous scaffolds were successfully fabricated by electrospinning to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) structure which is beneficial for tissue regeneration. An antiseptic drug, cephalexin (CEF)-loaded HNT, was incorporated into the alginate-based matrix to obtain sustained antimicrobial protection and robust mechanical properties, the key criteria for tissue engineering applications. Electron microscopic imaging and drug release studies revealed that CEF had penetrated into the lumen space of the HNT and also deposited on the outer walls, with a total loading capacity of 30 wt %.