Two series of fibers containing the active ingredients acyclovir, ciprofloxacin and cyanocobalamin, and combinations of these drugs, were prepared by electrospinning. One set used the hydrophilic poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as the filament-forming polymer, while the other used the slow-dissolving poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The fibers were found to have cylindrical morphologies, although there was evidence for solvent occlusion with the PVP systems and for some drug particles in the PCL materials. The active ingredients were generally present in the amorphous physical form in the case of PVP, but evidence of crystallinity was observed with PCL. The existence of intermolecular interactions between the drugs and polymers was proven using simple molecular modeling calculations. Drug release from the various fibers was tested in a validated in vitro outflow model of the eye, and the fiber formulations found to be capable of extending drug release. We thus conclude that electrospun matrices such as those prepared in this work have potential for use as intravitreal implants.
Keywords: Acyclovir (Pubchem ID: 2022); Antivirals; Ciprofloxacin (2764); Cyanocobalamin (5311498); Electrospinning; Fibers; Half-life; In vitro; Ocular drug delivery; Posterior segment; Sustained release.
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