Objective: The following research aims to formulate nanofibers using a statistical model to reduce time and cost. Nanofibers are nanomaterials composed of a blend of more than one polymer. The selection of the proper exact ratio is challenging, costly and time-consuming.
Methods: Nanofibres were prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) at different concentrations. The experiment used Design-Expert® software (version 13) through full factorial design. A high electrical field was applied to convert the polymeric solution to electrospun nanofibers. Voriconazole, as a triazole drug, was used as a model drug. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) of Voriconazole, fibre diameters and the morphology of nanofibers were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The higher desirability of nanofibers was selected.
Results: The EE% ranged from 6.7 % to 97.94 %. Fibres diameter ranged from 87.18 to 2500 nm. An SEM analysis revealed long and uniform threads of nanofibers. The solution suggested by the software out of 18 runs resulted in nanofibers having an EE% of 90.3% and a diameter of 87.8 nm±22. 2 SD.
Conclusion: Electrospun nanofibres were successfully prepared from 18 runs only. A high loading of model drug was achieved at relatively low numbers of experiments. Time and cost were effectively reduced while maintaining a high desirability for the results.