Development and Optimization of Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers for Vaginal Drug Delivery Using Design of Experiments Approach

Abstract

Objectives Vaginal nanofibers with high surface area and tunable porosity are a promising platform for vaginal administration. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a widely used polymer in the pharmaceutical field due to its hydrophilic, biodegradable, non-toxic, and mucoadhesive properties. This study aimed to optimize PVA-based electrospun nanofibers for vaginal drug delivery by evaluating polymer concentration, solvent system, and collector rotation speed using a design of experiments-based approach. Materials and Methods PVA was dissolved in distilled water (DW) at 90 °C to prepare polymer solutions; then N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or ethanol was added. The surface tension, viscosity, and conductivity of the polymer solutions were evaluated. For the production of nanofibers via electrospinning, the parameters selected were PVA concentrations of 7.5% and 15%, collector rotation speed of 100 and 1000 rpm, and two solvent systems (DMF: DW and ethanol: DW). Mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of nanofibers were evaluated using a texture analyzer. Results Viscosity and conductivity increased as polymer concentration increased. An increase in PVA concentration resulted in increased tensile strength of the nanofibers, from 1.41±0.07 to 3.92±0.14 MPa ( p <0.0001). Nanofiber diameters ranged from 196±41 nm to 1721±114 nm ( p <0.0001). All formulations exhibited complete wettability with contact angles of 0°. Ex vivo mucoadhesion studies revealed that collector rotation speed influenced the work of adhesion, with the highest mucoadhesion observed for the R3 formulation produced at 1000 rpm. Conclusion The solvent system and collector rotation speed were found to influence the morphological structure of the fibers. R3 (7.5% PVA, ethanol/DW, 1000 rpm) formulation was found to be more suitable than other formulations based on its mechanical and mucoadhesive properties. It was concluded that in the production of PVA nanofibers, the rotating speed of the collector, the polymer concentration, and the solvent system directly affect the mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of the nanofibers.

The Effect of the Extraction Medium (A Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Derived System vs. Ethanol) on the Properties of Electrospun PVA Fibers Containing Quercus robur Extracts

“…Viscosity values in the range of 1–20 P have often been reported as favorable for electrospinning and, in some systems, for the formation of uniform, bead-free fibers [ 33 ]; however, the optimal viscosity range is strongly system-dependent. The decrease in viscosity observed in ethanol extract-containing formulations was accompanied by a reduction in fiber diameter, consistent with previous reports of a positive correlation between solution viscosity and fiber diameter in PVA electrospinning systems [ 34 ]. In contrast, the formulations containing the ChCl:LA:water-derived extract exhibited viscosities comparable to the reference solution.…”

The Effect of the Extraction Medium (A Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Derived System vs. Ethanol) on the Properties of Electrospun PVA Fibers Containing Quercus robur Extracts

“…Viscosity values in the range of 1–20 P have often been reported as favorable for electrospinning and, in some systems, for the formation of uniform, bead-free fibers [ 33 ]; however, the optimal viscosity range is strongly system-dependent. The decrease in viscosity observed in ethanol extract-containing formulations was accompanied by a reduction in fiber diameter, consistent with previous reports of a positive correlation between solution viscosity and fiber diameter in PVA electrospinning systems [ 34 ]. In contrast, the formulations containing the ChCl:LA:water-derived extract exhibited viscosities comparable to the reference solution.…”

The Effect of the Extraction Medium (A Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Derived System vs. Ethanol) on the Properties of Electrospun PVA Fibers Containing Quercus robur Extracts

“…Viscosity values in the range of 1–20 P have often been reported as favorable for electrospinning and, in some systems, for the formation of uniform, bead-free fibers [ 33 ]; however, the optimal viscosity range is strongly system-dependent. The decrease in viscosity observed in ethanol extract-containing formulations was accompanied by a reduction in fiber diameter, consistent with previous reports of a positive correlation between solution viscosity and fiber diameter in PVA electrospinning systems [ 34 ]. In contrast, the formulations containing the ChCl:LA:water-derived extract exhibited viscosities comparable to the reference solution.…”

The Effect of the Extraction Medium (A Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Derived System vs. Ethanol) on the Properties of Electrospun PVA Fibers Containing Quercus robur Extracts

“…Viscosity values in the range of 1–20 P have often been reported as favorable for electrospinning and, in some systems, for the formation of uniform, bead-free fibers [ 33 ]; however, the optimal viscosity range is strongly system-dependent. The decrease in viscosity observed in ethanol extract-containing formulations was accompanied by a reduction in fiber diameter, consistent with previous reports of a positive correlation between solution viscosity and fiber diameter in PVA electrospinning systems [ 34 ]. In contrast, the formulations containing the ChCl:LA:water-derived extract exhibited viscosities comparable to the reference solution.…”