| Affiliation: | 1. École de Technologie Superieure (ÉTS), Mechanical Engineering Department, 1100 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, (Québec) H3C 1 K3 Canada;2. École de Technologie Superieure (ÉTS), Mechanical Engineering Department, 1100 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, (Québec) H3C 1 K3 Canada
Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Chemical Engineering Department, USP, Lorena, SP, Brazil;3. Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Chemical Engineering Department, USP, Lorena, SP, Brazil |
| Abstract: | In this work, nanofiber scaffolds for surface drug delivery applications were obtained by electrospinning poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and its blends with poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone). The process parameters to obtain smooth and beadless PNVCL fibers were optimized. The average fibers diameter was less than 1 μm, and it was determined by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Their affinity toward water was evaluated by measuring the contact angle with water. The ketoprofen release behavior from the fibers was analyzed using independent and model-dependent approaches. The low values of the release exponent (n < 0.5) obtained for 20 and 42 °C, indicating a Fickian diffusion mechanism for all formulations. Dissolution efficiencies (DEs) revealed the effect of polymer composition, methodology used in the electrospinning process, and temperature on the release rate of ketoprofen. PNVCL/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone)-based nanofibers showed greater ability to control the in vitro release of ketoprofen, in view of reduced kinetic constant and DE, making this material promising system for controlling release of hydrophobic drugs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48472. |
