Solid dispersions in the form of electrospun core-sheath nanofibers

Abstract

Background:The objective of this investigation was to develop a new type of solid dispersion in the form of core-sheath nanofibers using coaxial electrospinning for poorly water-soluble drugs. Different functional ingredients can be placed in various parts of core-sheath nanofibers to improve synergistically the dissolution and permeation properties of encapsulated drugs and to enable drugs to exert their actions. Methods: Using acyclovir as a model drug, polyvinylpyrrolidone as the hydrophilic filamentforming polymer matrix, sodium dodecyl sulfate as a transmembrane enhancer, and sucralose as a sweetener, core-sheath nanofibers were successfully prepared, with the sheath part consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sucralose, and the core part composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone and acyclovir. Results: The core-sheath nanofibers had an average diameter of 410 ± 94 nm with a uniform structure and smooth surface. Differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction results demonstrated that acyclovir, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sucralose were well distributed in the polyvinylpyrrolidone matrix in an amorphous state due to favoring of second-order interactions. In vitro dissolution and permeation studies showed that the core-sheath nanofiber solid dispersions could rapidly release acyclovir within one minute, with an over six-fold increased permeation rate across the sublingual mucosa compared with that of crude acyclovir particles. Conclusion: The study reported here provides an example of the systematic design, preparation, characterization, and application of a novel type of solid dispersion consisting of multiple components and structural characteristics.

Fabrication and characterization of anisotropic nanofiber scaffolds for advanced drug delivery systems

“…19,20 Multicompartmental characteristics of the anisotropic architectures make them suitable for a number of intriguing applications, including switchable display devices, 21 a colloidal stabilizer at an interface of two immiscible solutions, 22 selfpropelled motors, 23 optical sensors, 24 and spontaneous assembly for complex structures. 25 In addition, multicompartmental nanofibers with core-shell [26][27][28][29] and side-by-side 30,31 structures have been explored for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. However, there have been very limited studies regarding anisotropic architectures with actuation at the micro-or nanoscale, which are useful for advanced biomedical applications, specifically for biosensors, shape memory devices, microactuators, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery.…”

The potential applications of fibrin-coated electrospun polylactide nanofibers in skin tissue engineering

“…One approach is the needleless electrospinning enabling the production of nanofibers on a large scale. 5 Another method is the creation of structural nanofibers using multiple-fluid electrospinning such as coaxial, 6,7 triaxial, 8 or side-by-side 9 process. The multiple-fluid electrospinning enables encapsulation of drugs or other biological agents into polymeric nanofibrous scaffold and can be potentially applied for drug delivery.…”

Acute and subacute toxicity profiles of thymoquinone-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier in BALB/c mice

“…11 Nanocarriers have emerged as a new technology to enhance the solubility of drugs in aqueous solution, increase their bioavailability, and enhance serum half-life, in addition to enabling tumor cell targeting and bioimaging. 13,14 Some examples of nanocarriers are micelles, liposomes, micro-and nanopolymeric particles, and more recently, molecular carriers such as medicated nanofibers, 15 carbon nanotubes, 16 cyclodextrins, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and lipid nanocapsules, which have significant effects on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bioactive compounds. 13 As TQ is a hydrophobic molecule, many attempts have been made to synthesize soluble TQ analogs or encapsulate TQ in nanoformulations.…”