Methylprednisolone acetate–Eudragit^® RS100 electrospuns: Preparation and physicochemical characterization

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to formulate methylprednisolone acetate -Eudragit^® RS100 nanofibers and nanobeads by the electrospinning method. The physicochemical characteristics of the prepared electrospuns were assessed as well. The particle size and morphology were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the drug in the nanofibers and nanobeads obtained was also studied by X-ray crystallography and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms. In addition, FT-IR spectroscopy was applied to investigate any possible chemical interaction between the drug and carrier during the preparation process. The drug release kinetics were considered, to predict the release mechanism. Increasing the concentration of the injected solution resulted in the production of more nanofibers and less nanobeads, with the particle size ranging from 100 to 500 nm. The drug crystallinity was decreased during the electrospinning process; however, no interaction between drug and polymer was observed. The electrospuns showed faster drug release pattern compared to the pure drug. The release data were best fitted to the Weibull model, in which the corresponding shape factor values of the model were less than 0.75 indicating the diffusion mechanism of drug release. In conclusion, electrospinning could be considered as a simple and cost effective method for fabricating the drug: polymer nanofibers and nanobeads.

Keywords::

• Eudragit^® RS100
• electrospinning
• methylprednisolone acetate
• nanobeads
• nanofibers
• physicochemical characteristics

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Research Vice-Chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. This article is based on a thesis submitted for Pharm D degree in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.