Dual temperature and pH responsive nanofiber formulations prepared by electrospinning

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Developing advanced drug delivery systems is crucial for improving therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
• Stimuli-responsive materials offer precise control over drug release kinetics.
• Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating nanofibrous materials for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a dual-responsive drug delivery system capable of releasing ketoprofen in response to both pH and temperature changes.
• To fabricate hybrid electrospun fibers combining thermoresponsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and pH-sensitive Eudragit L100.
• To evaluate the drug loading, release profiles, and biocompatibility of the developed system.

Main Methods:

• Twin-jet electrospinning was employed to fabricate hybrid fiber mats containing PNVCL/ethyl cellulose (EC) and Eudragit L100.
• Ketoprofen (KET) was incorporated into the fibers to create drug-loaded formulations.
• In vitro studies were conducted to assess drug release kinetics under varying pH and temperature conditions.
• Fiber morphology was analyzed using microscopy, and biocompatibility was evaluated through cell culture studies.

Main Results:

• Hybrid fiber mats were successfully fabricated, exhibiting smooth and homogeneous morphology with or without ketoprofen.
• PNVCL-containing fibers demonstrated a transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic behavior above 33°C (lower critical solution temperature).
• In vitro release studies confirmed that the hybrid mats exhibited combined pH- and thermosensitive properties, leading to sustained ketoprofen release.
• The developed drug delivery system was found to be nontoxic and supported cell growth, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully developed a dual-responsive drug delivery system using PNVCL/EC and Eudragit L100 hybrid electrospun fibers.
• The system effectively combines thermoresponsive and pH-sensitive characteristics for controlled and targeted ketoprofen release.
• The fabricated multicomponent fiber mats are biocompatible and suitable for advanced drug delivery applications.