Drug delivery systems using sandwich configurations of electrospun poly(lactic acid) nanofiber membranes and ibuprofen

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 4002 - 4008
• Main Authors: Immich, Ana Paula Serafini, Arias, Manuel Lis, Carreras, Núria, Boemo, Rafael Luís, Tornero, José Antonio
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Cell Survival - drug effects; Drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems; Electrospinning; Enginyeria tèxtil; Fibres sintètiques; Fibres tèxtils; Fibres tèxtils sintètiques; HeLa Cells; Humans; Ibuprofen; Ibuprofen - pharmacology; Kinetics; Lactic Acid - chemistry; Lactic Acid - toxicity; Materials nanoestructurals; Membranes, Artificial; Nanofibers; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanofibers - ultrastructure; Poly(lactic acid); Polyesters; Polymers - chemistry; Polymers - toxicity; Polímers; Propietats elèctriques; Time Factors; Toxicity Tests; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Electrospinning; Poly(lactic acid); Drug delivery; Nanofibers; Ibuprofen
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2013.05.034

The primary advantages of electrospun membranes include the ability to obtain very thin fibers that are on the order of magnitude of several nanometers with a considerable superficial area and the possibility for these membranes to be manipulated and processed for many different applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and quantify the transport mechanisms that control the release of drugs from polymer-based sandwich membranes produced using the electrospinning processes. These electrospun membranes were composed of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) because it is one of the most promising biodegradable polymers due to its mechanical properties, thermoplastic processability and biological properties, such as its biocompatibility and biodegradability. The transport mechanism that controls the drug delivery was evaluated via the release kinetics of a bioactive agent in physiological serum, which was used as a corporal fluid simulation. To describe the delivery process, mathematical models, such as the Power Law, the classical Higuchi equation and an approach to Fick's Second Law were used. Using the applied mathematical models, it is possible to conclude that control over the release of the drug is significantly dependent on the thickness of the membrane rather than the concentration of the drug.
•Drug delivery from polymer based sandwich membranes produced by electrospinning processes•Electrospun membranes provide very thin fibers in the order of some nanometers.•Drug release is very dependent on membrane thickness rather than drug concentration.•Thinner membranes for ibuprofen release control with a high initial dose.•Denser and thicker membranes for higher ibuprofen release control with low dose rates.