Incorporation of ethylcellulose microparticles containing a model drug with a bitter taste into nanofibrous mats by the electrospinning technique - preliminary studies

Olechno, Katarzyna (author), Grilc, Nina Katarina (author), Zupančič, Špela (author), Winnicka, K. (author)

Electrospinning is considered a simple and comprehensive technique to formulate ultrafine fibres by using an electric field. Polymeric nanofibers constitute promising materials in biomedical applications as drug delivery systems. For their preparation, both natural and synthetic polymers are utilised. Owing to the potential use of electrospun nanofibers as an orodispersible drug dosage form, ethylcellulose microparticles containing the antihistamine drug rupatadine fumarate, prepared by the spray drying technique to conceal the drug’s bitter taste, were incorporated into nanofibers. The obtained nanofibrous mats were evaluated for morphology, mechanical strength, disintegration time, the drug solid state and acceptability in terms of taste masking efficiency. Preliminary studies showed that hypromellose used as a single polymer was not a suitable substance for the manufacturing of nanofibers. Therefore, in order to facilitate the obtention of homogeneous nonwovens, different grades of polyethylene oxide (2,000,000–2M-Da and 4,000,000–4M-Da) were added, which improved the quality of the prepared mats. Nanofibers of the most satisfactory quality were obtained from hypromellose (6.5% w/v) and PEO (2M, 0.5% w/v). SEM image analysis has shown that the nanofibers were homogeneous and smooth and possessed a fast disintegration time (below 30 s) and an adequate drug content with a simultaneous taste-masking effect (as indicated by the in vivo and in vitro methods). However, further studies are necessary to refine their mechanical characteristics.

• Language: English
• Keywords: electrospinning, electrospun nanofibers, drug delivery platform, ethylcellulose, microparticles, rupatadine fumarate, orodispersible films
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 31.07.2022
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 15, art 5286
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138770
• UDC: 66.017-022.513.2:677.46/.47
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma15155286
• COBISS.SI-ID: 118353155
• Publication date in RUL: 17.08.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 17.08.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: elektropredenje, elektropredena nanovlakna, platforma za dostavo zdravil, etilceluloza, mikrodelci, rupatadin fumarat, polimerni materiali, orodisperzibilne folije, polimerna vlakna, nanovlakna

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0189-2018
• Name: Farmacevtska tehnologija: od dostavnih sistemov učinkovin do terapijskih izidov zdravil pri otrocih in starostnikih