Functionalization of Cotton Fabrics with Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles for Transdermal Release of Melatonin

Abstract

Drug delivery by means of transdermal patches raised great interest as a non-invasive and sustained therapy. The present research aimed to design a patch for transdermal delivery of melatonin, which was encapsulated in polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) by employing flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) technique. Melatonin-loaded PCL nanoparticles were successfully prepared with precise control of the particle size by effectively tuning process parameters. The effect of process parameters on the particle size was assessed by dynamic light scattering for producing particles with suitable size for transdermal applications. Quantification of encapsulated melatonin was performed by mean of UV spectrophotometry, obtaining the estimation of encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity (LC%). An EE% higher than 80% was obtained. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of NPs was performed to confirm effective encapsulation in the solid phase. Cotton fabrics, functionalized by imbibition with the nano-suspension, were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to check morphology, adhesion and distribution of the NPs on the surface; melatonin transdermal release from the functionalized fabric was performed via Franz’s cells by using a synthetic membrane. NPs were uniformly distributed on cotton fibres, as confirmed by SEM observations; the release test showed a continuous and controlled release whose kinetics were satisfactorily described by Baker–Lonsdale model.

Application of flash nanoprecipitation to fabricate poorly water-soluble drug nanoparticles

“…Many researchers have used this CIJM to prepare various drug nanoparticles summarized in Table 1 . They were mainly applied in the preparation of drug polymeric micelles 42 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 50 , polymeric nanoparticles 88 , 89 , 90 and solid lipid nanoparticle 48 , 49 , 91 by nanoprecipitation methods. The high mixing efficiency and uniformity via CIJM were helpful in creating high supersaturation and high nucleation rates, which generated small and uniform nanoparticles with higher drug encapsulation efficiency (DEE) and drug loading capacity (DLC).…”

Preparation of Electrosprayed Poly(caprolactone) Microparticles Based on Green Solvents and Related Investigations on the Effects of Solution Properties as Well as Operating Parameters

“…Therefore, the suitable solvent properties as well as operating parameters to develop electrosprayed particles with satisfied size, as well as morphology, also need further investigation. In addition, although some green solvents (i.e., anisole and acetone) have been introduced to prepare PCL microspheres, their applications in PCL electrospraying is still unreported [35,39].…”

<p>A Peptide-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoplatform-Loaded Melatonin for Targeted Amelioration of Fibrosis in Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy</p>

“…There is, therefore, a need for an efficient new strategy for targeted delivery of melatonin. [22][23][24] Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as a promising targeted drug delivery platform because of their unique magnetic property, which is ideal for in vivo use. 25,26 SPIONs can be highly magnetized, allowing associated drug molecules to be dragged to the target site in the body under the influence of an external magnetic field.…”