Abstract
A side-by-side electrospinning process characterized by a home-made eccentric spinneret was established to produce the Janus beads-on-a-string products. In this study, ketoprofen (KET) and methylene blue (MB) were used as model drugs, which loaded in Janus beads-on-a-string products, in which polyvinylpyrrolidone K90 (PVP K90) and ethyl cellulose (EC) were exploited as the polymer matrices. From SEM images, distinct nanofibers and microparticles in the Janus beads-on-a-string structures could be observed clearly. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that all crystalline drugs loaded in Janus beads-on-a-string products were transferred into the amorphous state. ATR-FTIR revealed that the components of prepared Janus nanostructures were compatibility. In vitro dissolution tests showed that Janus beads-on-a-string products could provide typical double drugs controlled-release profiles, which provided a faster immediate release of MB and a slower sustained release of KET than the electrospun Janus nanofibers. Drug releases from the Janus beads-on-a-string products were controlled through a combination of erosion mechanism (linear MB-PVP sides) and a typical Fickian diffusion mechanism (bead KET-EC sides). This work developed a brand-new approach for the preparation of the Janus beads-on-a-string nanostructures using side-by-side electrospinning, and also provided a fresh idea for double drugs controlled release and the potential combined therapy.
Highlights
Published: 25 April 2021Nanotechnology has been the most widely studied and multidisciplinary technology field for the past few years
Similar to a coaxial electrospinning system, side-by-side electrospinning treats two working fluids synchronously for manufacturing Janus beads-on-a-string structures, which are composed of nanofibers and microparticles
In addit fabrication of Janus beads-on-a-string by using a parallel spinneret are rarely seen a home-made eccentric needle was fabricated, and side-by-side electrospinning beads-on-a-string by using a parallel spinneret are rarely seen
Summary
Nanotechnology has been the most widely studied and multidisciplinary technology field for the past few years. Janus [47] nanostructures are frequently explored to offer biphasic drug release behaviors and tri-chamber nanostructures are able to provide even complex drug controlled release profiles such as three-phase pulsatile release [41,48] According to their chemical composition and function, nanostructures prepared by electrospinning can be designed into two independent parts, which have raised wide concern over the years [43,49,50]. With the increasing advantages of micro-nano structures, some researchers have noticed unique features of beads-on-a-string and discovered that drug release could be adjusted by controlling the size of particles [58,59]. The relationship between structures and properties of material could be established, which would instruct to control the release of double drugs
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