Property Improvment of Electrospun Drug-Loaded Nanofibers Using Composite PAN/PVP as Filament-Forming Matrix

Acyclovir-loaded PAN/PVP composite nanofibers were prepared using co-dissolving methods and electrospinning processes. N, N-Dimethylacetamide was selected as the co-dissolving solvent of PAN, PVP and acyclovir. Compared with acyclovir-loaded PAN nanofibers, the acyclovir-loaded PAN/PVP composite nanofibers exhibited more uniform structure and homogenous drug distributions, which was indicated by the polarized microscopy images. XRD and FTIR results demonstrated that the presence of PVP in the drug-loaded nanofibers increased the compatibility between the drug and the polymer matrix and resulted in the amorphous acyclovir status through the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions among the components. In vitro dissolution tests showed that the acyclovir-loaded PAN/PVP composite nanofibers could provide better drug controlled release profiles with less initial drug release burst effect, bigger percentage drug free out and relatively long time drug release time periods. Composite nanofibers with hydrophilic polymer PVP and PAN could improve their drug-loaded capability, drug controlled release profiles and their microstructure uniformity.