Polyvinylpyrrolidone Nanofibers Research Articles

Synthesis and Characterization of PVdF/PVP-Based Electrospun Membranes as Separators for Supercapacitor Applications

Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber embedded with carbon black nanoparticles (<50nm) were fabricated and characterized for supercapacitor separators. Carbon black nanoparticles with different weight percentages (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4wt%) were added to a mixture of N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC)/acetone and sonicated for a well dispersion. Then, PVdF and PVP were added, and the solution was heated on a hot plate to make a polymeric solution prior to the electrospinning process. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was carried out on the PVdF/PVP films to identify changes in the crystalline phase during the process. The annealed nanofibers samples were also examined by X-ray diffraction unit. These investigations demonstrated that the many physical properties were significantly improved, which may be useful for supercapacitor separators. Supercapacitors will become one of the most suitable energy storage devices in the near future, and the separator is one of the major components of the supercapacitors.Keywords: Electrospun Nanofibers, PVdF, carbon black nanopowders, characterization, supercapacitor separators.

EMULSION ELECTROSPINNING OF POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE (PVP)/PARACETAMOL NANOFIBERS

This study aimed to achieve Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber production including paracetamol (PCT) by oil-in-water emulsion electrospinning. At first, emulsions were prepared at 14 wt % PVP with various PCT concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 wt %). Then, solution properties such as viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension were determined. The production of nanofiber samples was carried out by emulsion electrospinning under the optimum process parameters (voltage, distance between electrodes, feed rate, and atmospheric conditions). Finally, the morphological and structural characterization of the nanofiber surface was carried out with SEM and FT-IR. According to the results of emulsion properties, although the change is not remarkable, it tends to increase the viscosity with an increase in PCT concentration. On the other hand, it was observed that surface tension did not change significantly with PCT concentration increasement and while the conductivity of emulsions decreased slightly. When the fibre structure was investigated, average fibre diameter and fibre diameter uniformity were not affected prominently by PCT concentration. From the SEM images, it is possible to say that generally fine, uniform and bead-free drug-loaded nanofibers were obtained. The finest (326 nm) and most uniform (1.03) nanofibers were achieved from the sample N4 which included 0.5 wt % PCT. Also, the FT-IR results verified that PVP and PCT exist in the nanofiber structure.

The morphology of polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers containing Anredera cordifolia leaves

The electrospinning method has been used successfully to make polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofiber containing Anredera cordifolia leaves (BLE). The research methods used were qualitative and pure experiment method. Polyvinilpirolidone nanofibers containing BLE were prepared with three mass variations of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (% w/w), namely 12%, 10%, and 8% w/w, respectively. The results of the macroscopic photo show that the fiber structure looks white for PVP nanofibers and yellow for PVP/BLE nanofibers. The fiber morphology was analyzed using SEM and the results showed that PVP and all PVP/BLE nanofibers were like a continuous strand of crossbars with a diameter of 590 – 1190 nm. The decrease in the concentration of the PVP polymer led to a reduction in the diameter of the resulting nanofibers. The coefficients of variance (ε), of the PVP, BLE1, BLE2, and BLE3 nanofibers were 0.06, 0.09, 0.11, and 1.22, respectively. The physicochemical structure of the nanofibers was evaluated using XRD and FTIR. The chemical analysis (FTIR) showed that there was a molecular interaction between Anredera cordifolia leaves extract and polyvinylpyrrolidone in the form of hydrogen bonds. The physics analysis (XRD) shows the effect of the electrospinning process, which is to change the structure of BLE crystals to semi crystals. The application of PVP/BLE nanofiber for wounds dressing

Effect of Calcination Temperature on Photocatalytic Degradation Performance of Electrospun β-Ga₂O₃ Nanofibers.

In the present work, Ga₂O₃ nanofibers were successfully synthesized by electrospinning a solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and gallium nitrate, followed by temperature-controlled calcination treatment of the as-spun PVP and gallium nitrate composite nanofibers. The crystallinity and crystallite size of the Ga₂O₃ nanofibers can be readily controlled by varying the calcination temperature. From the physicochemical analysis results of the synthesized nanofiber, it was found that the nanofiber calcined at a higher temperature showed a higher crystallinity and a larger crystallite size. The photocatalytic degradation results on rhodamine-B (Rho B) revealed that the photocatalytic activity of the Ga₂O₃ nanofibers can be improved by optimizing the conflicting characteristics, crystallinity and crystallite size, through the control of the calcination temperature. The photocatalytic activity of a nanofiber calcined at 800 °C for the degradation of Rho B under ultraviolet irradiation exhibits 2.39 and 1.16 times higher than that of nanofibers synthesized at 700 °C and 900 °C, respectively, which is ascribed to relatively efficient charge transfer and dye molecule adsorption by its proper crystallinity and crystallite size.

Highly Sensitive and Selective Sodium Ion Sensor Based on Silicon Nanowire Dual Gate Field-Effect Transistor

In this study, a highly sensitive and selective sodium ion sensor consisting of a dual-gate (DG) structured silicon nanowire (SiNW) field-effect transistor (FET) as the transducer and a sodium-selective membrane extended gate (EG) as the sensing unit was developed. The SiNW channel DG FET was fabricated through the dry etching of the silicon-on-insulator substrate by using electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers as a template for the SiNW pattern transfer. The selectivity and sensitivity of sodium to other ions were verified by constructing a sodium ion sensor, wherein the EG was electrically connected to the SiNW channel DG FET with a sodium-selective membrane. An extremely high sensitivity of 1464.66 mV/dec was obtained for a NaCl solution. The low sensitivities of the SiNW channel FET-based sodium ion sensor to CaCl2, KCl, and pH buffer solutions demonstrated its excellent selectivity. The reliability and stability of the sodium ion sensor were verified under non-ideal behaviors by analyzing the hysteresis and drift. Therefore, the SiNW channel DG FET-based sodium ion sensor, which comprises a sodium-selective membrane EG, can be applied to accurately detect sodium ions in the analyses of sweat or blood.

Optimization and efficacy studies of Laccase immobilized on Zein-Polyvinyl pyrrolidone nano fibrous membrane in decolorization of Acid Red 1

Abstract Azo dyes are widely used in textile industries. A significant portion of these recalcitrant dyes are being discharged to the natural waters. Due to their low biodegradability they pose serious pollution problems if untreated. In this work, decolourization studies of Acid Red 1 (AR1) by laccase enzyme immobilized onto zein–polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) composite nanofiber is done. The nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. pH and temperature profiles of immobilized enzyme were found to be broader than its free counterpart. The Km value was found to be 0.243 mM for free laccase and 0.958 mM for immobilized laccase. Similarly, Vmax for the free enzyme was 3.572 U/mg compared to 2.48 U/mg of immobilized laccase. The relative activity of immobilized laccase was 64.91% after storage for 30 days at room temperature while it was 28.64% for free laccase. The temperature and pH for AR 1 decolorization were optimized and was found to be 60 °C and 5, respectively. Also, decolorization percentage was found to be 91.67% for immobilized laccase and 72.03% of free laccase in the presence of natural mediators like vanillin. From phytotoxicity studies it was found that the germination rate, shoot and root length was increased compared to untreated dye. Therefore, zein–PVP nanofiber immobilized laccase could be an ideal candidate for the textile dye decolorization.

In vitro and in vivo biological assessment of dual drug-loaded coaxial nanofibers for the treatment of corneal abrasion

The treatment of corneal abrasion currently involves the topical administration of antibiotics, with moxifloxacin HCl (0.5% w/v) eye drops being one of the most widely used treatments. Our previous work (Tawfik et al., 2020) involved the development of coaxial poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers loaded with the antibiotic moxifloxacin HCl and the anti-scarring agent pirfenidone in the core (PVP) and shell (PLGA) respectively, with a view to the system comprising an ocular insert for the combination therapy of corneal abrasion. In this study, we examine the antimicrobial, anti-scarring and pharmacokinetic properties of the fibers alongside consideration of their toxicity and propensity for irritation. Minimum inhibitory concentration and zone of inhibition studies against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were performed, while fibroblast cell viability and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, a biomarker for scar formation) were measured using MTT and Western Blot assays, respectively. Pharmacokinetic studies and efficacy against infection were performed using a rabbit model, while ocular irritancy was assessed using the Draize test. The studies demonstrated that the antimicrobial activity of the moxifloxacin HCl was preserved following encapsulation into the nanofibers, while the downregulation of α-SMA was demonstrated using concentrations below the IC20 values (concentration required to decrease corneal fibroblast viability by no more than 20%). The pharmacokinetic study showed retention and sustained release of the moxifloxacin HCl over a 24-hour period, in contrast to equivalent eye drops which required four times daily dosing. Evidence of low level (according to the MMTS scale) irritation was detected for the nanofiber systems. Overall, the study has demonstrated that the dual drug-loaded nanofiber system shows potential for once daily dosing as an ocular insert for the treatment of corneal abrasion.

Electrospun lignin-PVP nanofibers and their ability for structuring oil

This work explores the electrospinnability of low-sulfonate Kraft lignin (LSL)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solutions in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and the ability of the different micro- and nano-architectures generated to structure castor oil. LSL/PVP solutions were prepared at different concentrations (8–15 wt%) and LSL:PVP ratios (90:10–0:100) and physico-chemically and rheologically characterized. The morphology of electrospun nanostructures mainly depends on the rheological properties of the solution. Electrosprayed nanoparticles or micro-sized particles connected by thin filaments were obtained from solutions with low LSL/PVP concentrations and/or high LSL:PVP ratios, whereas beaded or bead-free nanofibers were produced by increasing concentration and/or decreasing LSL:PVP ratio, due to enhanced extensional viscoelastic properties and non-Newtonian characteristics. Electrospun LSL/PVP nanofibers are able to form oleogels by simply dispersing them into castor oil at concentrations between 10 and 30 wt%. The rheological properties of the oleogels may be tailored by modifying the LSL:PVP ratio and nanofibers content. The potential application of these oleogels as bio-based lubricants was also explored in a tribological cell. Satisfactory friction and wear results are achieved when using oleogels structured by nanofibers mats with enhanced gel-like properties as lubricants. Overall, electrospinning of lignin/PVP solutions can be proposed as a simple and effective method to produce nanofibers for oil structuring.

Elektroeğirilmiş Polivinilpirolidon/Grafit Kompozit Nanofiber Keçeler: Katkının Morfoloji Ve Islanabilirlik Üzerine Etkisi

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of graphite (GR) content on the morphology and wettability of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) / GR composite nanofibers. For this purpose, PVP and PVP/GR composite nanofiber mats of various filler contents (0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, 2.4%, 3%, 3.6% and 4.2 % of GR (wt.% of PVP)) were fabricated by electrospinning. The morphology and diameters of the nanofibers were characterized by SEM. Average diameters of 218 nm for unfilled PVP nanofibers and between 170 nm and 203 nm for composite nanofibers were observed. The water wettability of the nanofiber mats was also characterized by contact angle measurements. Contrary to expectations, the results reveal an increase in the water wettability of composite PVP nanofiber mats with increasing graphite content. This evolution seems to be based on the mild hydrophilicity of graphite discovered in recent years. The relationship with nanofibers’ electrical conductivity was also examined.

Antimicrobial Double-Layer Wound Dressing Based on Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Copper: In vitro and in vivo Assessment.

PurposeToday, the development of wounds and their side effects has become a problematic issue in medical science research. Hydrogel-based dressings are some of the best candidates for this purpose due to their ability to keep the wound bed clean, as well as provide proper moisture, tissue compatibility and an antimicrobial effect for wound healing. On the other hand, copper and its compounds have been used experimentally for many years in studies as an antimicrobial substance. Various studies have been performed determining the antimicrobial properties of this element, during which significant effects on infection have been shown.MethodsChitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/copper nanofibers were successfully prepared by incorporating Cu onto a polymer electrospun using an electrospinning technique. A double-layer nanofiber composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan incorporated with Cu nanoparticles as a protective layer and a second layer composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers which was adjacent to the damaged cells was prepared. The prepared nanofiber was characterized by TGA, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDS, and X-ray powder diffraction. The antimicrobial efficiency of the nanofibers was demonstrated through biological tests on some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the prepared hydrogel formulations were prepared to evaluate their effect on the healing process of rat open wounds.ResultsIn this study, data from SEM, TEM, EDS, and XRD confirmed the formation of uniform fibers with nanodiameters and the presence of Cu nanoparticles onto the electrospun nanofibers. The antibacterial activity of copper was observed against all of the selected bacteria, but the Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive compared to Gram-negative bacteria.ConclusionAccording to the obtained results, the hydrogel wound dressing prepared in this research can be effective in caring for open wounds in the early stages of wound healing and preventing the occurrence of prolonged open wounds.

Antioxidant effects of ankaferd blood stopper doped polyvinyl pyrolidon in an experimental model created in insect

This research evaluated Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS)-doped Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber layers which were produced with the electrospinning method for their potential for co-use in response to oxidative stress. As a result of the use of such a preparation (ABS doped PVP) in long-term treatments, the response to oxidative stress was compared to biochemical parameters, and its effect on sex was also aimed to be determined. For this purpose, Drosophila melanogaster foods were coated with 10% PVP, ABS (2 ml) and PVP-ABS. In total, 300 flies were randomized into 6 groups, each consisting of 25 female and 25 male insects, and the insects were fed with the determined coated mediums. The effects of foods on adult flies were tested for biochemical changes (Malondialdehyde-MDA and Total oxidation status-TOS, Glutathione-S-Transferase-GST, Catalase-CAT and Superoxide dismutase-SOD activities, Total antioxidant capacity-TAS) at the end of ten days. It was determined that the separate use of the two substances increased the amount of MDA in both sexes. It was found that the combined use of PVP-ABS had a positive effect similar to the control by increasing the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST). Feeding with ABS-doped PVP in the male insects reduced TOS (2.00 ± 0.01 μmol H2O2Eq/L), but the female insects were found to have higher OSI (40.00 ± 0.01 μmol H2O2Eq/L). As a result, PVP-ABS may be used together as an antioxidant, but more detailed studies are needed for their safe use on both sexes.

Proses şartlarının polivinilpirolidon polimerinin düşük toksisiteli solventler ile elektroeğirilme davranışı üzerindeki etkisi

Due to its properties such as biocompatibility, water solubility and stability, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) becomes more and more attractive for biomedical applications. This polymeric material is used in various applications such as pharmaceutical aid, complexing agent or solubilizer. PVP nanofibers are often produced using PVP solutions in solvents with high toxicity such as dimethylformamide (DMF). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of process parameters on the electrospinning behavior of polyvinylpyrrolidone in solvents with lower toxicity such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or ethanol. Therefore, solutions of PVP in ethanol, PVP in DMSO or PVP in binary solvent systems such as DMSO/ethanol or DMSO/acetone were prepared and electrospun. The effect of process parameters such as voltage, flow rate, tip-to-collector distance were examined. A solution parameter, the polymer concentration was also considered. The morphology and diameter of the electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the solution viscosity was also questioned. Nanofibers with a homogeneous cylindrical morphology were obtained in the case of PVP in ethanol solutions for a polymer concentration of 7 wt.%. The process parameters were: a voltage of 15kV, tip-to-collector distance of 15 cm and a flow rate of 1.25 mL/h. PVP in DMSO solutions didn’t allow the obtention of solid nanofibers on the collector where a wetness zone appears. This shows that the solvent could not evaporate quickly. A wetness was also observed with PVP solutions prepared using binary solvent systems where a more volatile solvent such as ethanol or acetone was used.

Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Incorporated Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone Nanofibers (PVPT) and Remediation of Lead from Water System

Electrospinning has become a popular method in fiber production due to increased interest in nanofiber technology. It has been an efficient tool to prepare nanofibers for the treatment of waste water. It is a multipurpose, cost-effective way of spinning that provides rapid formation of fibers. This study provides an easy and efficient method for the preparation of a novel polyvinyl pyrrolidone titanium oxide (PVPT) composite by electrospinning for the treatment of lead contaminated water. In this purpose, homogeneously distributed TiO2 powder and TiO2 included PVP nanofibers were sandwiched into PCL nano fibrous layers. SEM and FTIR analysis were used to witness the synthesis of composite and the morphology of the produced PVPT structures. Average fiber diameter for pure PVP was calculated as 143±35 nm while it was found 114±31 nm for PVPT. Optimum removal was achieved at pH 8; agitation time 30 min, initial concentration of lead solution 10 mg l−1 and adsorbent dosage 50 mg. The kinetics of adsorption was well described by second order kinetic model with the correlation coefficient 0.99. Monolayer adsorption capacity of PVPT was calculated as 33.33 mg g−1.

Testing of fast dissolution of ibuprofen from its electrospun hydrophilic polymer nanocomposites

The dissolution of poorly water-soluble drug poses a big challenge to the researchers in drug discovery. Electrospun nanofibers have been broadly demonstrated as good candidates for resolving this issue. However, the testing methods are often indiscriminate with the drug sustained release profiles. In this study, a new coaxial solid core spinneret was developed to carry out the preparation of ibuprofen (IBU)-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers. These nanofibers have an average diameter of 740 ± 130 nm with linear morphology, smooth surface and smooth cross-section without any solid phase separation, as verified by SEM images. XRD and DSC results suggested that IBU presented in the fibers in an amorphous state thanks to their fine compatibility, as disclosed by FTIR spectra. Four different methods (a polarized microscope, an artificial tongue, a contact angle meter, and the in vitro dissolution tests) are exploited to assess the fast dissolution properties of the fibers. Their results concurred the fine functional performances of electrospun nanofibers on improving the dissolution rate of IBU from different standpoints, with 100.3 ± 4.2% of the loaded IBU freed into the dissolution media within the first minute. They are synergistic effects of hydrophilic polymer, large surface and porosity of electrospun nanofiber mats, and amorphous state of the drug.

Ultra-high sensitivity pH-sensors using silicon nanowire channel dual-gate field-effect transistors fabricated by electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers pattern template transfer

In this study, we fabricated a silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based ultra-high-sensitivity dual-gate (DG) pH ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (pH-ISFET) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers (NFs) as a template for SiNW fabrication. By comparing the electrical properties, capacitive coupling, pH sensitivity, and non-ideal effects, such as drift or hysteresis voltages with a silicon film channel-type DG pH-ISFET, the effectiveness of the SiNW channel was verified. The SiNW-type DG FET exhibited better electrical properties, such as higher mobility, smaller sub-threshold slopes, and larger on-off current ratios, than the conventional silicon film-type DG FET. It also showed an increased capacitive-coupling ratio between the top and bottom gates. Through pH-ISFETs, which have an extended gate connected to the fabricated DG FETs, the sensing performance of the SiNW channel and silicon film channel can be compared. In the single-gate sensing mode, the film-type and SiNW-type devices showed a sensitivity of 56.6 mV/pH and 56.3 mV/pH, respectively. Meanwhile, in the DG sensing mode, the film-type device showed a sensitivity of 938.4 mV/pH, and the SiNW-type device has a sensitivity of 1438.8 mV/pH, indicating that the pH sensitivity in the SiNW channel was significantly amplified. Non-ideal effects were also evaluated, and the SiNW-type device showed more stable performance with a smaller hysteresis voltage and drift rate than the film-type device. Therefore, pH-ISFETs based on the SiNW-type DG FET using PVP nanofiber pattern template transfer, which involve a simple and low-cost process, show their potential in future bio-sensing applications owing to their high sensitivity and excellent stability.

Effect of polymer and surfactant concentrations on PVP nanofibers morphology

In this study, biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based nanofiber production was carried out with various polymer and surfactant concentrations. Firstly; various concentrations of PVP (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 wt %) polymer solutions were prepared, solution properties (conductivity, viscosity, surface tension, pH and density) were determined and nanofiber production was achieved under the optimum process parameters. 12 wt % PVP concentration was chosen as an optimum in terms of nanofiber morphology and fiber fineness. Then, polymer concentration was kept constant at 12 wt % and various concentrations of surfactant (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 wt %) added into the polymer solutions. According to the solution properties and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images; conductivity, viscosity and average fiber diameter increased with polymer and surfactant concentrations increasement and ultra-fine, bead free and uniform nanofibers were obtained. On the other hand, surface tension and pH values were affected by polymer concentration changing, however, surface tension decreased significantly and pH decreased slightly with the addition of surfactant to the PVP polymer solution. Moreover, the density of polymer solutions increased with both polymer solution and surfactant concentration increasement.

Electrospun Resveratrol-Loaded Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Cyclodextrin Nanofibers and Their Biomedical Applications.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol compound which has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its pharmaceutical applications are limited by its poor water solubility. In this study, we used electrospinning technology to synthesize nanofibers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) loaded with resveratrol. We used X-ray diffractometry to analyze crystalline structure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine intermolecular hydrogen bonding, antioxidant assays to measure antioxidant activity, and Franz diffusion cells to evaluate skin penetration. Our results showed that the aqueous solubility of resveratrol nanofibers was greatly improved (by more than 20,000-fold) compared to the pure compound. Analysis of physicochemical properties demonstrated that following nanofiber formation, resveratrol was converted from a crystalline to amorphous structure, and resveratrol formed new intermolecular bonds with PVP and HPBCD. Moreover, resveratrol nanofibers showed good antioxidant activity. In addition, the skin penetration ability of resveratrol in the nanofiber formulation was greater than that of pure resveratrol. Furthermore, resveratrol nanofibers suppressed particulate matter (PM)-induced expression of inflammatory proteins (COX-2 and MMP-9) in HaCaT keratinocytes. Therefore, resveratrol-loaded nanofibers can effectively improve the solubility and physicochemical properties of resveratrol, and may have potential applications as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory formulation for topical skin application.

Needleless electrospinning system with wire spinneret: an alternative way to control morphology, size, and productivity of nanofibers

Electrospinning is a versatile method to produce nanofibers. Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively used in many industrial applications such as wound dressing, sensor, protective clothing, and filters. However, producing nanofibers efficiently through a single-needle electrospinning technique is still challenging. In this study, a system of needleless electrospinning with a wire spinneret was utilized to produce Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers. Process parameters comprised concentration of solution, applied voltage, flow rate of solution, collection distance, and diameter of the wire spinneret were altered to examine morphology, diameter, and productivity of the produced fibers. SEM images showed that morphology of the produced fibers was affected by concentration of PVP solution. Moreover, diameter of the produced fibers could be varied by controlling the process parameters. Our needleless electrospinning system has proved to be more productive in producing fibers than the single-needle electrospinning system.

Electrospun metronidazole-loaded nanofibers for vaginal drug delivery

Objective: To develop and characterize innovative vaginal dosage forms for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV).Significance: This study is the first comparative evaluation of the metronidazole (MET)-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber formulations on BV treatment. Vaginal nanofibers are one of the potential innovative dosage forms for BV treatment because of their flexible, mucoadhesive, and easy application in vaginal application which can be applied by the mucosal route.Methods: Blank and MET-loaded PVP solutions were prepared at three different concentrations (10, 12.5, 15%) for produce nanofiber. The suitability of the viscosities, surface tensions, and conductivity values of the solutions used to produce nanofibers for the electrospinning process has been evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy, mucoadhesion, permeability, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and drug release tests were performed to reveal the physical, chemical, and pharmaceutical properties of the nanofibers. Mechanical properties, and contact angle of the fibers were also determined. Gel and solution formulations containing MET were prepared for comparative studies.Results: All polymer solutions were found to be suitable for electrospinning process. PVP concentration directly affected nanofiber diameter, mechanical, and mucoadhesion properties of nanofibers. The release profiles of the drug from the nanofibers were similar for all concentration of PVP and release from the fibers was rapid. The permeability coefficient of MET from nanofibers was increased more than gel and solution formulations.Conclusions: Vaginal use of MET-loaded nanofibers has been shown to be a potential drug delivery system for the treatment of BV.

Towards Analysis and Optimization of Electrospun PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) Nanofibers

In this study, the polymeric nanofibers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were manufactured using the electrospinning technique. The electrospinning process parameters such as voltage, polymer concentration, rotational speed of the collecting drum, collecting distance, and flow rate were optimized to obtain the minimum fiber diameter for sound absorption applications. The effects of these parameters on the fiber diameter as output responses were investigated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Taguchi’s array design. Furthermore, a mathematical model was generated using response surface methodology (RSM) to model the electrospinning process. The high voltage and polymer concentration were observed to be the most significant parameters at 95% and 99% confidence level. The average model accuracy of 83.4% was observed for the predictive model of electrospinning which is considered acceptable as it is composed of complete experimental trials of 27 out of 243 runs. The experimental study offers a promising attempt in the open literature to carefully understand the effect of various electrospinning parameters when producing PVP nanofibers.