pH-Responsive Chitosan/Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complexes on Electrospun PLGA Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Electrospun nanofibers offer high porosity and surface-to-volume ratio.
• Surface functionalization can introduce new properties like pH-responsiveness.
• Controlled drug release is crucial for effective therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create pH-responsive nanofibers for controlled ibuprofen release.
• To functionalize PLGA nanofibers using layer-by-layer assembly of chitosan and alginate.
• To investigate the drug release mechanism influenced by pH.

Main Methods:

• Sequential deposition of chitosan and alginate on PLGA nanofibers via layer-by-layer assembly.
• Spectroscopy techniques and ζ-potential measurements for surface characterization.
• In vitro drug release studies at different pH levels.

Main Results:

• Successful formation of a chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex on nanofibers.
• Positive surface charge (16.2 ± 4.2 mV at pH 3.0) confirmed by ζ-potential.
• Slower ibuprofen release observed at acidic pH (1.0) compared to neutral pH.

Conclusions:

• The developed polyelectrolyte complex nanofibers exhibit pH-responsive drug release.
• The system is a promising candidate for drug delivery systems needing to bypass the acidic digestive tract.
• Surface charge and interactions play a key role in modulating drug release kinetics.