Fast Dissolving Electrospun Nanofibers Fabricated from Jelly Fig Polysaccharide/Pullulan for Drug Delivery Applications

Abstract

The fast-dissolving drug delivery systems (FDDDSs) are developed as nanofibers using food-grade water-soluble hydrophilic biopolymers that can disintegrate fast in the oral cavity and deliver drugs. Jelly fig polysaccharide (JFP) and pullulan were blended to prepare fast-dissolving nanofiber by electrospinning. The continuous and uniform nanofibers were produced from the solution of 1% (w/w) JFP, 12% (w/w) pullulan, and 1 wt% Triton X-305. The SEM images confirmed that the prepared nanofibers exhibited uniform morphology with an average diameter of 144 ± 19 nm. The inclusion of JFP in pullulan was confirmed by TGA and FTIR studies. XRD analysis revealed that the increased crystallinity of JFP/pullulan nanofiber was observed due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The tensile strength and water vapor permeability of the JFP/pullulan nanofiber membrane were also enhanced considerably compared to pullulan nanofiber. The JFP/pullulan nanofibers loaded with hydrophobic model drugs like ampicillin and dexamethasone were rapidly dissolved in water within 60 s and release the encapsulants dispersive into the surrounding. The antibacterial activity, fast disintegration properties of the JFP/pullulan nanofiber were also confirmed by the zone of inhibition and UV spectrum studies. Hence, JFP/pullulan nanofibers could be a promising carrier to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs for fast-dissolving/disintegrating delivery applications.

Orally Fast Disintegrating Cyclodextrin/Prednisolone Inclusion-Complex Nanofibrous Webs for Potential Steroid Medications

“…As an innovative approach, the drugs in the class II–IV of the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) have been incorporated into electrospun nanofibrous webs of hydrophilic polymers for developing ODDSs. For this purpose, the nanofibrous webs of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), − polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Eudragit, gelatin, the polymer blends of PVP/PVA, jelly fig polysaccharide/pullulan and chitosan/pullulan have been incorporated with different types of drug molecules including ornidazole, amlodipine besylate/valsartan, paracetamol/caffeine, phloretin, moxifloxacin hydrochloride, repaglinide, ampicillin, aspirin, and so forth. In these respective reports, nonaqueous solvents, high stirring temperature (70 °C), or soluble salt derivates of drug molecules have been used to ensure the dissolution of both the polymer and drugs in the electrospinning solution system.…”

Functionalization of Aminoalkylsilane-Grafted Bacterial Nanocellulose with ZnO-NPs-Doped Pullulan Electrospun Nanofibers for Multifunctional Wound Dressing

“…It is not surprising that the hybrid nanofibers dissolved quickly in PBS because Pul is a water-soluble polymer. Ponrasu et al 41 developed electrospun nanofibers from jelly fig (Ficus pumila var. awkeotsang) polysaccharide and pullulan for oral drug delivery and showed fast dissolution of the electrospun nanofibers.…”

Biopolymer from Water Kefir as a Potential Clean-Label Ingredient for Health Applications: Evaluation of New Properties

“…This result was due to the increase in the number of free ions and, consequently, increased mobility in the aqueous medium, as described by the free ion theory [34]. Ponrasu et al [35] reported a conductivity of 27.5 µS/cm for 10% pullulan, an EPS produced by the polymorphic fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. EPSwk showed in lower concentrations showed better conductivity values than the pullulan.…”