Electrospun Nanofiber and Cryogel of Polyvinyl Alcohol Transdermal Patch Containing Diclofenac Sodium: Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Release Studies

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) have drawn more interest from pharmaceutical scientists because they could provide steady blood levels and prevent the first-pass metabolism over a longer period. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been widely used in this application due to its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, nanofiber and hydrogel-forming ability. Despite those benefits, their morphology would easily be destroyed by continuous water absorption and contribute to burst drug release due to its hydrophilicity. The aim of this study was to prepare the diclofenac sodium (DS)-medicated dual layer PVA patch using a combination of electrospinning and cryogelation (freeze–thaw) methods to improve the physicochemical properties and drug compatibility and investigate the release of the DS-medicated dual layer PVA patch. Morphological observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified the polymer−polymer interaction between both layers, whereas Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has demonstrated the compatibility of DS in PVA matrix up to 2% w/v of PVA volume. The DS loads were found amorphously distributed efficaciously in PVA matrix as no visible spectra of DS–PVA interaction were detected. The DS-medicated dual layer PVA patch with a thicker nanofiber layer (3-milliliter running volume), three freeze–thaw cycles and 2% DS loading labeled as 2%DLB3C show the lowest swelling capacity (18.47%). The in vitro assessment using Franz diffusion cells showed that the 2%DLB3C indicates a better sustained release of DS, with 53.26% of the DS being released after 12 h. The 2%DLB3C owned a flux (Jss) of 0.256 mg/cm2/h and a permeability coefficient (Kp) value of 0.020 cm/h. Thus, the results demonstrate that DS-medicated dual layer PVA patches prepared via a combination of electrospinning and cryogelation are capable of releasing drugs for up to 24 h and can serve as a drug reservoir in the skin, thereby extending the pharmacologic effects of DS.

Formulation and Evaluation of Diclofenac Potassium Gel in Sports Injuries with and without Phonophoresis

“…Any comparison of the current study’s results with other intervention programs for soft tissue injuries to assess the effectiveness of DK gel compared to other established products is hampered by differences in study design, inclusion criteria, duration of treatment, and efficacy assessment methods. Furthermore, in recent years, a variety of biomaterials (e.g., patches-based hydrogels, cryogels, nanofibers) together with their distinct physicochemical features have been extensively investigated and developed in the fields of drug-delivery, tissue engineering, medicine, and public health, including disease diagnosis [ 21 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. Thereby, a most recent study in rabbits has reported an injectable thermosenstive hydrogel for dual delivery of diclofenac and avastin (an anti-VEGF) to reduce the inflammation of the corneal neovascularization more effectively [ 49 ].…”

Supramolecular self-assembly with p-coumaric acid offers the first cocrystal for perfecting the physicochemical peculiarity and enhancing the antifungal effect of drug bifonazole

“…The permeability assay was operated in a Franz diffusion cell. A cellulose nitrate membrane (skin-mimicking membrane) 41 was first placed in a vertical diffusion cell, the effective surface area of which was 0.64 cm 2 . The suspension of BFZ or BFZ–TPA (containing approximately 50 mg) was prepared and located above the donor compartment, 42 and the recipient chamber was filled with a buffer solution of pH 6.8.…”

Electrospun PVA Fibers for Drug Delivery: A Review

“…In another research study by Sa’adon et al, electrospun (2 mL and 3 mL solution) PVA (10 wt% in water) fiber mats were prepared and a DS (0.0 (un-medicated), 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%)-medicated PVA layer was added on the electrospun PVA mats [ 54 ]. The cryogelation of the dual-layered samples was carried out via three freeze–thaw (24 h freeze at −20 °C, 2 h thaw at room temperature) cycles.…”

“… Cumulative amount of DS release per unit area (mg/cm 2 ) for DS -medicated DL A 3C and DL B 3C [ 54 ]. …”