Dissolution improvement of electrospun nanofiber-based solid dispersions for acetaminophen.

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Poorly water-soluble drugs present significant challenges in achieving effective therapeutic concentrations.
• Traditional solid dispersion (SD) methods often yield limited improvements in drug dissolution and bioavailability.
• Novel fabrication techniques are needed to enhance the dissolution of poorly soluble compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare novel solid dispersions (SDs) with unique microstructural characteristics using electrospinning.
• To investigate the potential of electrospun nanofiber-based SDs for improving the dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs.
• To compare the performance of electrospun SDs with those prepared by conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and acetaminophen (APAP) to form nanofiber membranes.
• Preparation of SDs using freeze-drying, vacuum drying, and heat drying for comparison.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
• In vitro dissolution testing to evaluate drug release profiles.

Main Results:

• Electrospun nanofiber-based SDs exhibited a continuous web structure with high surface area and porosity.
• Acetaminophen (APAP) showed a homogeneous distribution within the electrospun nanofiber matrix.
• In vitro dissolution tests showed rapid release of 93.8% APAP within 2 minutes from electrospun nanofibers.
• Dissolution rates followed the order: electrospun membrane > vacuum-dried ≈ freeze-dried > heat-dried membrane.

Conclusions:

• Electrospinning is a highly effective method for preparing solid dispersions with enhanced microstructural properties.
• Electrospun nanofiber-based SDs significantly improve the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs compared to traditional methods.
• The enhanced dissolution is attributed to the large surface area, high porosity, and homogeneous drug distribution achieved through electrospinning.