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Polymers
Volume 18
Issue 2
10.3390/polym18020191
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

pH-Responsive Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release in Infected Wound Treatment

by
Qian-Yu Yuan
1,
Lan Yang
1,
Bing-Chiuan Shiu
2,3,*,
Chien-Teng Hsieh
4,
Ching-Wen Lou
1,5 and
Jia-Horng Lin
1,6,7,*
1
School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
2
Fujian Key Laboratory of Novel Functional Fibers and Materials, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
3
Fujian Engineering Research Center of New Chinese Lacquer Material, College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
4
Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Shih Chien University, Kaohsiung Campus, Kaohsiung City 84550, Taiwan
5
Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung City 413305, Taiwan
6
Advanced Medical Care and Protection Technology Research Center, Department of Fiber and Composite Materials, Feng Chia University, Taichung City 407102, Taiwan
7
School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City 404333, Taiwan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020191 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 13 December 2025 / Revised: 2 January 2026 / Accepted: 6 January 2026 / Published: 10 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Development of Modified Polymer Materials in Sensing)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Infected wounds form a complex microenvironment that creates difficulties for drug delivery. In this study, a composite fiber membrane based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) was prepared. The intention was to achieve on-demand drug release and integrate multiple functions by adjusting the material composition. The membrane uses PEO as the main framework and contains chitosan (CS) and ascorbic acid (Asc). CS leads to an increase in fiber diameter, while Asc makes the fibers thinner. The two components act together to influence the microstructure. In vitro drug release experiments showed that changing the CS content in the PEO matrix can affect the initial release rate and the duration of sustained release. The membrane also shows sensitivity to pH. Under slightly acidic conditions, drug release becomes faster, which is similar to the state of infected wounds. In addition, the membrane maintains antioxidant activity and can inhibit Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). These results suggest that PEO-based composite fibers may be useful in drug delivery and tissue repair.
Keywords: polyethylene oxide; chitosan; drug delivery; composite fiber membranes polyethylene oxide; chitosan; drug delivery; composite fiber membranes

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yuan, Q.-Y.; Yang, L.; Shiu, B.-C.; Hsieh, C.-T.; Lou, C.-W.; Lin, J.-H. pH-Responsive Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release in Infected Wound Treatment. Polymers 2026, 18, 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020191

AMA Style

Yuan Q-Y, Yang L, Shiu B-C, Hsieh C-T, Lou C-W, Lin J-H. pH-Responsive Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release in Infected Wound Treatment. Polymers. 2026; 18(2):191. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020191

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yuan, Qian-Yu, Lan Yang, Bing-Chiuan Shiu, Chien-Teng Hsieh, Ching-Wen Lou, and Jia-Horng Lin. 2026. "pH-Responsive Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release in Infected Wound Treatment" Polymers 18, no. 2: 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020191

APA Style

Yuan, Q.-Y., Yang, L., Shiu, B.-C., Hsieh, C.-T., Lou, C.-W., & Lin, J.-H. (2026). pH-Responsive Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release in Infected Wound Treatment. Polymers, 18(2), 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020191

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