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Temperature-responsive electrospun nanofibers for 'on-off' switchable release of dextran
Young-Jin Kim1, Mitsuhiro Ebara2, Takao Aoyagi1
1Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan; Biomaterials Unit, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.
Researchers developed smart nanofibers capable of controlled drug release. These smart nanofibers (NFs) exhibit tunable properties for on-off release of dextran, offering a promising platform for drug delivery applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive materials are crucial for advanced drug delivery systems.
- Nanofibers offer high surface area and porosity, ideal for encapsulating therapeutic agents.
- Developing materials with tunable properties for controlled release remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer 'smart' nanofibers with dynamically tunable properties.
- To achieve 'on-off' controlled release of dextran using these nanofibers.
- To explore the potential of these nanofibers as a platform for drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and N-hydroxymethylacrylamide (HMAAm) copolymers.
- Thermal curing to crosslink hydroxyl groups and enhance fiber stability.
- Incorporation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran into the nanofiber matrix.
- Investigating the temperature-responsive volume changes and drug release kinetics.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated well-defined nanofibers (600-700 nm diameter) with preserved morphology after crosslinking.
- Demonstrated rapid and reversible volume changes in crosslinked nanofibers upon temperature cycling.
- Observed 'on-off' switchable release of FITC-dextran, with significant release during heating and minimal release during cooling.
- Confirmed the stability of crosslinked nanofibers in aqueous solutions during temperature alternations, unlike non-crosslinked counterparts.
Conclusions:
- Smart nanofibers with tunable properties for controlled dextran release have been successfully developed.
- The crosslinked nanofiber platform exhibits reversible volume changes and stable morphology, crucial for drug delivery.
- This approach provides a simple and effective platform for on-off drug delivery, leveraging the large surface area and porosity of nanofibers.
