Paclitaxel-loaded composite fibers: microstructure and emulsion stability

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Biomedical applications require advanced drug delivery systems.
• Core/shell fiber structures offer potential for localized drug release.
• Preventing restenosis and treating cancer are key therapeutic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel core/shell fiber structures loaded with paclitaxel.
• To investigate the influence of emulsion formulation and processing on fiber structure and drug release.
• To establish structure-property relationships for optimizing fiber performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of core/shell fibers by coating nylon with paclitaxel-loaded poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid).
• Shell preparation via freeze-drying of water-in-oil emulsions.
• Analysis of porous shell structure, emulsion stability, and drug release profiles.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly porous shell structures with excellent core adhesion.
• Emulsion drug content and copolymer composition significantly impacted pore size and distribution due to instability.
• Homogenization parameters had minimal effect on microstructure, indicating thermodynamic control.

Conclusions:

• Core/shell fibers loaded with paclitaxel are viable for biomedical applications.
• Emulsion thermodynamics, rather than kinetics, govern shell structure and drug release.
• Optimized formulations can yield tailored drug delivery profiles for applications like endovascular stents.