On-demand drug release from tailored blended electrospun nanofibers

• Published in: Journal of drug delivery science and technology Vol. 52; pp. 8 - 14
• Main Authors: Amarjargal, Altangerel, Brunelli, Marzia, Fortunato, Giuseppino, Spano, Fabrizio, Kim, Cheol Sang, Rossi, René M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2019
• Subjects: Blended nanofibers; Cytocompatibility; Glass transition temperature; On-demand drug release; On-demand drug release; Blended nanofibers; Cytocompatibility; Glass transition temperature
• ISSN: 1773-2247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2019.04.004

Aiming at the simplification of protocols as well as the improvement of currently available thermo-responsive nanocarrier formulations, we propose an innovative heat-triggered membrane made of electrospun nanofibers to control the release of active molecules at physiological temperature. In order to control the drug release, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of Eudragit® RS100 was varied by blending different ratios of the polymer with poly(methyl methacrylate), leading to a decrease from 80% to 12% of the total amount of Rhodamine B released within 24 h at 37 °C when a Eudragit® RS100/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers with ratio of 7:3 was considered. Furthermore, the on-demand drug release profiles confirm the absence of premature release at temperatures below the Tg due to restricted mobility of the macromolecular chains. On the contrary, chains mobility was enhanced at temperature above the Tg, promoting a controlled release of drug over time. Eventually, the high viability and proliferation rate of fibroblasts seeded on nanofibers shown by Presto Blue® metabolic assay and confocal images suggested membrane cytocompatibility. [Display omitted] •Simple method to prepare new class of cytocompatible electrospun nanofibers for on-demand drug delivery is presented.•ON(45 °C)/OFF(37 °C) trigger mechanism well manipulated via glass transition temperature (Tg) as thermo-responsive switch.•The developed nanofibrous membranes may be a potential candidate as targeted and responsive drug-delivery carrier.