Ibuprofen-Loaded ZnO Nanoparticle/Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers for Dual-Stimulus Sustained Release of Drugs

Abstract

Based on the opportunities of ibuprofen administration innovation and challenges associated with the construction of transdermal drug delivery systems using medicated nanoparticles and electrospun nanofiber membranes, we developed a transdermal drug delivery system comprising ibuprofen-loaded ZnO nanoparticles/polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofiber membranes (ZnO-ibuprofen/PAN), which was dual-stimulus responsive, wherein both pH and temperature triggered drug release. ZnO-ibuprofen nanoparticles with high drug loading capacity (17.7%) were prepared at room temperature by a one-step method involving 4,4′-((4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl) phenyl) azanediyl)dibenzoic acid, Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and ibuprofen, following which electrospinning was conducted to generate the ZnO-ibuprofen/PAN nanofibers. The transdermal drug release behavior of the ZnO-ibuprofen/PAN electrospun nanofiber membranes in the normal (pH = 7.4, 37 °C) and inflammatory (pH = 6.5, 42 °C) tissue environment exhibited increased drug release rate at higher ambient temperatures and decreased pH following 24 h of drug release. The cumulative drug release rate of ZnO-ibuprofen/PAN electrospun fibers through porcine skin under inflammatory conditions reached 71.35% ± 2.96% after 24 h, thereby demonstrating their favorable transdermal permeation behavior. The cytotoxicity assays revealed that the nanofibers possessed excellent biocompatibility. Thus, the dual stimulus-responsive ZnO-ibuprofen/PAN can be an effective transdermal drug delivery carrier.