PVA/titanate nanotube nanocomposites: Evaluating the required structural properties for their performance as macromolecule delivery systems

Abstract

Biopolymer‐based nanocomposites are gaining prominence in the fabrication of biomedical devices, with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) being widely used in smart dressings for drug and protein integration. This study introduces electrospun mats composed of partially hydrolyzed PVA and sodium titanate nanotubes (TiNTs). The investigation involved mats with TiNT concentrations ranging from 0% to 5% at room temperature. The morphological and structural changes resulting from adding TiNTs were examined in detail. The inclusion of TiNTs impacted parameters such as mean fiber diameter (130–190 nm), crystallinity degree (30–50%), and porosity (70–55%) and was closely associated with the viscoelastic properties of the mats. Higher TiNT concentrations led to reductions in either the storage modulus, from 350 to 220 MPa, or in the loss modulus, from 30 to 25 MPa, unveiling an increase in tenacity. Furthermore, in vitro release tests were conducted using bovine serum albumin (BSA) in Franz cells over 48 h. The results indicated that release profiles were best fitted by the Higuchi model (0.95 > R2 > 0.99) for both PVA mats (0% and 5.0% TiNTs), with the 5% TiNTs‐PVA membrane demonstrating greater BSA diffusion when compared to pure PVA. The release constant 𝐾rel, representing the rate of drug diffusion, was found to be 0.006 for 5% TiNT‐PVA mats and 0.002 μg h‐1/2 for pure PVA, respectively. These results suggest the potential of these materials in designing controlled transdermal delivery systems that could significantly improve the efficacy and safety of drug applications.