The aim of this study was to develop novel biomedicated electrospun nanofibers for controlled release. Pre-formulation studies were carried out for nanofibers of sodium alginate (SA) (2 wt %)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (10 wt %) composites (2/8, 3/7 and 4/6), by an electrospinning technique. The morphology and average diameter of the nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimum ratio (3/7) was used to load gatifloxacin hydrochloride (GH) (1wt %), found to form smooth fibers with uniform structures. The drug entrapment in the composite nanofibers was confirmed by SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and swelling behavior. The drug release behavior was investigated using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) at 37°C for 24 h. The XRD and FTIR data demonstrate that there are good interactions between PVA and SA, possibly caused by hydrogen bonds. As much as 90% of the GH was released from the electrospun fibers within 6 h of incubation. Beyond this, the release was sustained for 24 h. The thickness of nanofibers greatly influenced the initial release and rate of drug release. Moreover, GH-loaded sodium alginate/PVA composite nanofibers exhibited a useful and convenient method for electrospinning in order to control the rate and period of drug release in wound-healing applications.
Keywords: drug delivery; electrospinning; gatifloxacin; nanofibers; sodium alginate.