Utilization of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) and cellulose acetate fiber mats as carriers for topical release of NSAIDs and vitamins

Abstract

Mats of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers were successfully prepared by the electrospinning process and were developed as carriers of drugs and vitamins for transdermal drug delivery system. Four types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) of varying water solubility, i.e. sodium salicylate (SS), diclofenac sodium (DS), naproxen (NAP), and indomethacin (IND) were incorporated in the mats of PVA nanofibers. Due to the high amounts of SS released from the mats of SS-containing PVA nanofibers, cross-linking of the polymer matrix (PVA) was required in order to retard the rate of drug (SS) released. Cross-linking of the polymer matrix (PVA) was required in order to retard the rate of drug (SS) released. Cross-linking of the SS-loaded electrospun PVA mats was achieved by exposing the mats to the vapor from 5.6 M aqueous solution of either glutaraldehyde or glyoxal for various exposure time intervals. Moreover, mats of CA nanofibers were also developed as carriers for delivery of the model vitamins, i.e., vitamin A acid (Retin-A) and vitamin E (Vit-E). The morphological appearance of the electrospun nanofibers containing NSAIDs and vitamins depended on the nature of the polymers, the solvent, the drugs, the vitamins, and their solutions. Chemical integrity of the drugs within the drug-loaded as-spun mats, thermal property, swelling and weight loss behavior of neat and drug-loaded as-spun mats in an aqueous medium was studied. In addition, the release characteristics of NSAIDs and vitamins from electrospun nanofibers were investigated. Two types of release study, i.e. total immersion and transdermal diffusion through a pig skin, were carried out.