A Correlation Analysis between Undergraduate Students' Safety Behaviors in the Laboratory and Their Learning Efficiencies

How can Electrospinning Further Service Well for Pharmaceutical Researches?

The past two decades have witnessed the enormous success and progress of electrospinning, as well as its broad and useful applications in pharmaceutics as a laboratory pharmaceutical nanotechnology. Everything in the past is a preface, in which the large screen opens for electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers (particularly those multiple-fluid electrospinning processes and the related multiple-chamber nanostructures) to stride into a new stage and the real commercial applications. In this commentary, four hot regions are identified for the further progress of the applications of electrospinning in pharmaceutics, in which electrospinning and its products can provide more and better services to the development of pharmaceutics.

Electrosprayed Stearic-Acid-Coated Ethylcellulose Microparticles for an Improved Sustained Release of Anticancer Drug

Sustained release is highly desired for "efficacious, safe and convenient" drug delivery, particularly for those anticancer drug molecules with toxicity. In this study, a modified coaxial electrospraying process was developed to coat a hydrophobic lipid, i.e., stearic acid (SA), on composites composed of the anticancer drug tamoxifen citrate (TC) and insoluble polymeric matrix ethylcellulose (EC). Compared with the electrosprayed TC-EC composite microparticles M1, the electrosprayed SA-coated hybrid microparticles M2 were able to provide an improved TC sustained-release profile. The 30% and 90% loaded drug sustained-release time periods were extended to 3.21 h and 19.43 h for M2, respectively, which were significantly longer than those provided by M1 (0.88 h and 9.98 h, respectively). The morphology, inner structure, physical state, and compatibility of the components of the particles M1 and M2 were disclosed through SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR. Based on the analyses, the drug sustained-release mechanism of multiple factors co-acting for microparticles M2 is suggested, which include the reasonable selections and organizations of lipid and polymeric excipient, the blank SA shell drug loading, the regularly round shape, and also the high density. The reported protocols pioneered a brand-new manner for developing sustained drug delivery hybrids through a combination of insoluble cellulose gels and lipid using modified coaxial electrospraying.

Integrating Chinese Herbs and Western Medicine for New Wound Dressings through Handheld Electrospinning

In this nanotechnology era, nanostructures play a crucial role in the investigation of novel functional nanomaterials. Complex nanostructures and their corresponding fabrication techniques provide powerful tools for the development of high-performance functional materials. In this study, advanced micro-nanomanufacturing technologies and composite micro-nanostructures were applied to the development of a new type of pharmaceutical formulation, aiming to achieve rapid hemostasis, pain relief, and antimicrobial properties. Briefly, an approach combining a electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) technique and reversed-phase solvent was employed to fabricate a novel beaded nanofiber structure (BNS), consisting of micrometer-sized particles distributed on a nanoscale fiber matrix. Firstly, Zein-loaded Yunnan Baiyao (YB) particles were prepared using the solution electrospraying process. Subsequently, these particles were suspended in a co-solvent solution containing ciprofloxacin (CIP) and hydrophilic polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and electrospun into hybrid structural microfibers using a handheld electrospinning device, forming the EHDA product E3. The fiber-beaded composite morphology of E3 was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the amorphous state of CIP in the BNS membrane due to the good compatibility between CIP and PVP. The rapid dissolution experiment revealed that E3 exhibits fast disintegration properties and promotes the dissolution of CIP. Moreover, in vitro drug release study demonstrated the complete release of CIP within 1 min. Antibacterial assays showed a significant reduction in the number of adhered bacteria on the BNS, indicating excellent antibacterial performance. Compared with the traditional YB powders consisting of Chinese herbs, the BNS showed a series of advantages for potential wound dressing. These advantages include an improved antibacterial effect, a sustained release of active ingredients from YB, and a convenient wound covering application, which were resulted from the integration of Chinese herbs and Western medicine. This study provides valuable insights for the development of novel multiscale functional micro-/nano-composite materials and pioneers the developments of new types of medicines from the combination of herbal medicines and Western medicines.

Electrospun Biomolecule-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Drug delivery, mainly a professional term in pharmaceutics, is a field of interdisciplinary intersection and integration [...].

Dual-Step Controlled Release of Berberine Hydrochloride from the Trans-Scale Hybrids of Nanofibers and Microparticles

In this nano era, nanomaterials and nanostructures are popular in developing novel functional materials. However, the combinations of materials at micro and macro scales can open new routes for developing novel trans-scale products with improved or even new functional performances. In this work, a brand-new hybrid, containing both nanofibers and microparticles, was fabricated using a sequential electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) process. Firstly, the microparticles loaded with drug (berberine hydrochloride, BH) molecules in the cellulose acetate (CA) were fabricated using a solution electrospraying process. Later, these microparticles were suspended into a co-dissolved solution that contained BH and a hydrophilic polymer (polypyrrolidone, PVP) and were co-electrospun into the nanofiber/microparticle hybrids. The EHDA processes were recorded, and the resultant trans-scale products showed a typical hybrid topography, with microparticles distributed all over the nanofibers, which was demonstrated by SEM assessments. FTIR and XRD demonstrated that the components within the hybrids were presented in an amorphous state and had fine compatibility with each other. In vitro dissolution tests verified that the hybrids were able to provide the designed dual-step drug release profiles, a combination of the fast release step of BH from the hydrophilic PVP nanofibers through an erosion mechanism and the sustained release step of BH from the insoluble CA microparticles via a typical Fickian diffusion mechanism. The present protocols pave a new way for developing trans-scale functional materials.

The influence of the ultrasonic treatment of working fluids on electrospun amorphous solid dispersions

Based on a working fluid consisting of a poorly water-soluble drug and a pharmaceutical polymer in an organic solvent, electrospinning has been widely exploited to create a variety of amorphous solid dispersions However, there have been very few reports about how to prepare the working fluid in a reasonable manner. In this study, an investigation was conducted to determine the influences of ultrasonic fluid pretreatment on the quality of resultant ASDs fabricated from the working fluids. SEM results demonstrated that nanofiber-based amorphous solid dispersions from the treated fluids treated amorphous solid dispersions exhibited better quality than the traditional nanofibers from untreated fluids in the following aspects: 1) a straighter linear morphology; 2) a smooth surface; and 3) a more evener diameter distribution. The fabrication mechanism associated with the influences of ultrasonic treatments of working fluids on the resultant nanofibers' quality is suggested. Although XRD and ATR-FTIR experiments clearly verified that the drug ketoprofen was homogeneously distributed all over the TASDs and the traditional nanofibers in an amorphous state regardless of the ultrasonic treatments, the in vitro dissolution tests clearly demonstrated that the TASDs had a better sustained drug release performance than the traditional nanofibers in terms of the initial release rate and the sustained release time periods.

Biphasic drug release from electrospun structures

INTRODUCTION

Biphasic release, as a special drug-modified release profile that combines immediate and sustained release, allows fast therapeutic action and retains blood drug concentration for long periods. Electrospun nanofibers, particularly those with complex nanostructures produced by multi-fluid electrospinning processes, are potential novel biphasic drug delivery systems (DDSs).

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the most recent developments in electrospinning and related structures. In this review, the role of electrospun nanostructures in biphasic drug release was comprehensively explored. These electrospun nanostructures include monolithic nanofibers obtained through single-fluid blending electrospinning, core-shell and Janus nanostructures prepared via bifluid electrospinning, three-compartment nanostructures obtained via trifluid electrospinning, nanofibrous assemblies obtained through the layer-by-layer deposition of nanofibers, and the combined structure of electrospun nanofiber mats with casting films. The strategies and mechanisms through which complex structures facilitate biphasic release were analyzed.

EXPERT OPINION

Electrospun structures can provide many strategies for the development of biphasic drug release DDSs. However, many issues such as the scale-up productions of complex nanostructures, the in vivo verification of the biphasic release effects, keeping pace with the developments of multi-fluid electrospinning, drawing support from the state-of-the-art pharmaceutical excipients, and the combination with traditional pharmaceutical methods need to be addressed for real applications.

Fast and convenient delivery of fluidextracts liquorice through electrospun core-shell nanohybrids

Introduction: As an interdisciplinary field, drug delivery relies on the developments of modern science and technology. Correspondingly, how to upgrade the traditional dosage forms for a more efficacious, safer, and convenient drug delivery poses a continuous challenge to researchers.

Methods, results and discussion: In this study, a proof-of-concept demonstration was conducted to convert a popular traditional liquid dosage form (a commercial oral compound solution prepared from an intermediate licorice fluidextract) into a solid dosage form. The oral commercial solution was successfully encapsulated into the core–shell nanohybrids, and the ethanol in the oral solution was removed. The SEM and TEM evaluations showed that the prepared nanofibers had linear morphologies without any discerned spindles or beads and an obvious core–shell nanostructure. The FTIR and XRD results verified that the active ingredients in the commercial solution were compatible with the polymeric matrices and were presented in the core section in an amorphous state. Three different types of methods were developed, and the fast dissolution of the electrospun core–shell nanofibers was verified.

Conclusion: Coaxial electrospinning can act as a nano pharmaceutical technique to upgrade the traditional oral solution into fast-dissolving solid drug delivery films to retain the advantages of the liquid dosage forms and the solid dosage forms.

A Sequential Electrospinning of a Coaxial and Blending Process for Creating Double-Layer Hybrid Films to Sense Glucose

This study presents a glucose biosensor based on electrospun core-sheath nanofibers. Two types of film were fabricated using different electrospinning procedures. Film F1 was composed solely of core-sheath nanofibers fabricated using a modified coaxial electrospinning process. Film F2 was a double-layer hybrid film fabricated through a sequential electrospinning and blending process. The bottom layer of F2 comprised core-sheath nanofibers fabricated using a modified process, in which pure polymethacrylate type A (Eudragit L100) was used as the core section and water-soluble lignin (WSL) and phenol were loaded as the sheath section. The top layer of F2 contained glucose oxidase (GOx) and gold nanoparticles, which were distributed throughout the polyvinylpyrrolidone K90 (PVP K90) nanofibers through a single-fluid blending electrospinning process. The study investigated the sequential electrospinning process in detail. The experimental results demonstrated that the F2 hybrid film had a higher degradation efficiency of β-D-glucose than F1, reaching a maximum of over 70% after 12 h within the concentration range of 10-40 mmol/L. The hybrid film F2 is used for colorimetric sensing of β-D-glucose in the range of 1-15 mmol/L. The solution exhibited a color that deepened gradually with an increase in β-D-glucose concentration. Electrospinning is flexible in creating structures for bio-cascade reactions, and the double-layer hybrid film can provide a simple template for developing other sensing nanomaterials.

Piezoelectric Enhancement of Piezoceramic Nanoparticle-Doped PVDF/PCL Core-Sheath Fibers

Electrospinning is considered to be an efficient method to prepare piezoelectric thin films because of its ability to transform the phase of the polymers. A core-sheath structure can endow fibers with more functions and properties. In this study, fibers with a core-sheath structure were prepared using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) included with nanoparticles (NPs) as the shell layer and polycaprolactone (PCL) as the core layer. Their mechanical and piezoelectric properties were studied in detail. During the course of the electrospinning process, PVDF was demonstrated to increase the amount of its polar phase, with the help of nanoparticles acting as a nucleating agent to facilitate the change. PCL was chosen as a core material because of its good mechanical properties and its compatibility with PVDF. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) assessments revealed that the fibers have a core-sheath structure, and shell layers were loaded with nanoparticles. Mechanical testing showed that the core layer can significantly improve mechanical properties. The XRD patterns of the core-sheath structure fibers indicated the β phase domain the main component. Piezoelectric testing showed that the doped nanoparticles were able to enhance piezoelectric performances. The increases of mechanical and piezoelectric properties of core-sheath structure fibers provide a feasible application for wearable electronics, which require flexibility and good mechanical properties.

Electrospun fibers with blank surface and inner drug gradient for improving sustained release

New engineering methods and advanced strategies are highly desired for creating novel drug sustained release nanomaterials. In this study, a trilayer concentric spinneret was explored to implement several multifluid electrospinning processes. A trilayer core-shell nanofiber was successfully fabricated, which comprise a drug-free polymeric coating and an inner drug gradient distribution, and then compared with bilayer core-shell and monolithic medicated nanofibers. All the electrospun nanofibers similarly consisted of two components (guest drug acetaminophen and host polymer cellulose acetate) and presented a linear morphology. Due to the secondary interactions within nanofibers, loaded drug with amorphous state was detected, as demonstrated by SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR determinations. In vitro and in vivo gavage treatments to rats tests were carried out, the trilayer nanofiber with an elaborate structure design were demonstrated to provide better drug sustained release profile than the bilayer core-shell nanofibers in term of initial burst release, later tail-off release and long sustained release time period. The synergistic mechanism for improving the drug sustained release behaviors is disclosed. By breaking the traditional concepts about the implementation of multifluid electrospinning and the strategy of combining surface properties and inner structural characteristics, the present protocols open a new way for developing material processing methods and generating novel functional nanomaterials.

Release Profiles of Carvacrol or Chlorhexidine of PLA/Graphene Nanoplatelets Membranes Prepared Using Electrospinning and Solution Blow Spinning: A Comparative Study

Nanofibrous membranes are often the core components used to produce devices for a controlled release and are frequently prepared by electrospinning (ES). However, ES requires high production times and costs and is not easy to scale. Recently, solution blow spinning (SBS) has been proposed as an alternative technique for the production of nanofibrous membranes. In this study, a comparison between these two techniques is proposed. Poly (lactic acid)-based nanofibrous membranes were produced by electrospinning (ES) and solution blow spinning (SBS) in order to evaluate the different effect of liquid (carvacrol, CRV) or solid (chlorhexidine, CHX) molecules addition on the morphology, structural properties, and release behavior. The outcomes revealed that both ES and SBS nanofibrous mat allowed for obtaining a controlled release up to 500 h. In detail, the lower wettability of the SBS system allowed for slowing down the CRV release kinetics, compared to the one obtained for ES membranes. On the contrary, with SBS, a faster CHX release can be obtained due to its more hydrophilic behavior. Further, the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) led to a decrease in wettability and allowed for a slowing down of the release kinetics in the whole of the systems.

Recent Progress of the Preparation and Application of Electrospun Porous Nanofibers

Electrospun porous nanofibers have gained a lot of interest recently in various fields because of their adjustable porous structure, high specific surface area, and large number of active sites, which can further enhance the performance of materials. This paper provides an overview of the common polymers, preparation, and applications of electrospun porous nanofibers. Firstly, the polymers commonly used to construct porous structures and the main pore-forming methods in porous nanofibers by electrospinning, namely the template method and phase separation method, are introduced. Secondly, recent applications of electrospun porous nanofibers in air purification, water treatment, energy storage, biomedicine, food packaging, sensor, sound and wave absorption, flame retardant, and heat insulation are reviewed. Finally, the challenges and possible research directions for the future study of electrospun porous nanofibers are discussed.