Coaxial Electrospun PCL/PLA-CA Polymeric Membranes for pH-Responsive Acyclovir Delivery in Antiviral Scaffolds

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) cause recurrent skin infections that are difficult to treat because of the limited solubility and permeability of acyclovir (ACV). This study developed electrospun polymeric membranes based on polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and cellulose acetate (CA) as controlled ACV delivery systems using uniaxial and coaxial fiber architectures. In the coaxial configuration, ACV-loaded PCL was used as the core and a PLA/CA blend as the shell. Continuous, randomly oriented, bead-free fibers with diameters ranging from 0.68 ± 0.32 µm to 1.45 ± 0.57 µm were obtained. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses confirmed successful drug incorporation, polymer compatibility, and good thermal stability. Coaxial membranes exhibited improved mechanical properties compared with uniaxial systems. Drug release studies showed a prolonged, pH-dependent profile, with greater ACV release at pH 7.3 than at pH 5.5, indicating the effective modulation of drug diffusion by the shell layer. Release kinetics were mainly governed by diffusion and anomalous transport mechanisms. All membranes maintained a cell viability above 80%, demonstrating good in vitro cytocompatibility. These findings support the potential of coaxial electrospun membranes for controlled antiviral drug delivery in skin applications.