Comparative Analysis of Drug Inclusion Techniques in Nanofiber Mats

Date of Award

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Chemistry

First Reader

Dr. Sharon Hamilton

Second Reader

Dr. Sara Hubbard

Third Reader

Dr. Terry DeWitt

Abstract

Drug inclusion in fiber mats is an important aspect of modem wound dressings for healing assistance. Through the infusion of drug molecules in modern bandages, dressings can be loaded with compounds that fight infection and hasten the healing process. Therapeutics are typically infused into nanofibrous mats via electrospinning a solution of a polymer mixed with a drug molecule. While this technique is an effective means of incorporating drugs into constructs, it limits the application of the resulting mats to conditions that call for that specific therapeutic. Electrospinning is done through the dissolution of natural polymers in solution with a chosen drug, both with certain solubility capabilities. The solubility of the drug in conjunction with the natural polymer requires other solvents that dictate the electrospinning specifications. While this is something that can be solved in a lab setting, it cannot be done on-site in medical practices where the wound dressings are being utilized.

Alternatively, dipping polymer nanofiber mats into therapeutic-containing solutions is another way drugs could be infused into materials that could prove to be an alternate and more accessible infusion method. This method involves the incorporation of drugs into a prespun nanofiber mat through absorbance of a drug solution. It allows the drug infusion to happen separately without an electrospinning instrument. It could also provide the ability to use small amounts of solvents that would not evaporate well in the electrospinning process, as they do not dissolve the polymer mats. This could open up access to the infusion of drugs that previously were unable to be electrospun due to their limited solubility (Ye et al, 2019).

This research investigated the use of two different methods of drug inclusion in electrospun nano-fiber mats: dipping and electrospinning using the antibiotic linezolid. The electrospun nanofiber mats from both forms of drug inclusion were then compared through the conduction of drug release studies in physiological conditions. The hypothesis of these preliminary studies is that therapeutic-dipped fiber mats will give a similar drug release profile to that of therapeutic-electrospun fiber mats proving the dipping method of drug infusion can be an equitable and flexible alternative to the cunent electrospinning method of infusing drugs.

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