Therapeutic applications of electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery systems

• Published in: Archives of pharmacal research Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 69 - 78
• Main Authors: Son, Young Ju, Kim, Woo Jin, Yoo, Hyuk Sang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.01.2014; 대한약학회
• Subjects: absorption; Animals; antibodies; bioactive properties; cell differentiation; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - instrumentation; drugs; Humans; hydrocolloids; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; hydrophobicity; Medicine; Nanofibers; Nanomedicine - instrumentation; Nanomedicine - methods; nanoparticles; Pharmaceutical Preparations - administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemistry; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; polymers; Polymers - chemistry; proteins; Review; Solubility; solvents; Technology, Pharmaceutical - instrumentation; Technology, Pharmaceutical - methods; 약학; Electrospinning; Nanofiber; Drug delivery; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 0253-6269; 1976-3786; 1976-3786
• DOI: 10.1007/s12272-013-0284-2

Electrospun nanofiber drug delivery systems have been studied using various techniques. Herein, we describe the fabrication of a drug-incorporating nanofiber. Drugs, such as proteins, peptide, antibodies, and small molecule drugs, can be loaded within or on the surface of nanofibers according to their properties. Hydrophobic drugs are directly dissolved with a polymer in an organic solvent before electrospinning. However, it is preferred to surface-immobilize bioactive molecules on nanofibers by physical absorption or chemical conjugation. Especially, chemically surface-immobilized proteins on a nanofiber mesh stimulate cell differentiation and proliferation. Using a dual electrospinning nozzle to create nanofiber sheet layers, which are stacked on top of one another, the initial burst release is reduced compared with solid nanofibers because of the layers. Furthermore, hybridization of electrospun nanofibers with nanoparticles, microspheres, and hydrogels is indirect drug loading method into the nanofibers. It is also possible to produce multi-drug delivery systems with timed programmed release.