Evaluation of PCL Electrospun Scaffolds Concentration on Metformin Hydrochloride Release Ratio

Abstract

The study investigates the effect of polycaprolactone (PCL) concentration on the metformin hydrochloride (MH) release ratio of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds. Blend and emulsion electrospinning are used to produce the scaffolds. The performance of nanofibrous scaffolds was evaluated by morphology (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, FESEM), chemical (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR), thermal (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC), wettability, porosity, mechanical tests, and in vitro drug release. The average fiber diameter ranged from (189.29-2893.93 nm) according to the FESEM results, and it increased with PCL concentration. The average fiber diameter of the electrospun scaffold, prepared by the blend method (259.64±6.1 nm), is lower than that of the electrospun scaffold produced by the emulsion method (487.45±22.53 nm). Melting points of all drug-loaded scaffolds were identical to those of pure PCL polymer. Compared with blend electrospun nanofibers, emulsion electrospun nanofibers showed a marked increase in hydrophilicity. The tensile strength indicated an improvement in the mechanical properties with a decrease in the average fiber diameter. Moreover, the results show that the release of Metformin hydrochloride decreases with the concentration of polycaprolactone. Total MH release from (5% w/v) PCL-MH fibrous scaffolds for three-week was 71.11 % and 93.91 % from the emulsion and blend methods, respectively. The drug release ratio is lower in emulsion electrospinning than in blend because the drug is encapsulated by polymer and surfactant, which improves control and long-term drug delivery system DDS.