Comparison of BSA release behavior from electrospun PLGA and PLGA/Chitosan membranes

\In order to encpsulate and controlled-release bioactive proteins, three fibrous membranes, i.e., poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA), hybrid PLGA and chitosan(H-PLGA/CS), and core/shell PLGA/CS (C-PLGA/CS), were produced by emulsion electrospinning, co-electrospinning and coaxial electrospinning, respectively. Bovine serum albumin(BSA) was selected as a model protein. The loading efficiency of BSA in the PLGA membrane was 1.56%, lower than those of H-PLGA/CS(5.98%) and C-PLGA/CS(4.80%). BSA release profiles from the three membranes showed initial burst releases in the first 7 d and then sustained release for 28 d. Cumulative releases at the end of the releasing period, 28 d, from the above three membranes were nearly 63%, 88% and 94%, respectively, indicating that the introduction of chitosan and the core/shell fiber structure could enhance BSA release rate. In addition, all these electrospun membranes could retain their fibrous morphologies after in vitro release of BSA for 28 d.