Shih-Feng Chou
The University of Texas at Tyler, USA
Title: Effects of drug-polymer interactions on mechanical behaviors and pharmaceutical performance in drug-eluting nanofibers
Biography
Biography: Shih-Feng Chou
Abstract
Electrospun Nano fibers are advantageous in drug loading efficiency with the ability to tune release rates based on polymer compositions. As a result, the mechanical behaviors of the Nano fibers may be signifi cantly aff ected by polymer compositions and drug loading. However, effects of drug loading on the mechanical properties and release behaviors of fi ber-based delivery system have not been fully investigated. Here, we studied the mechanical behaviors and pharmaceutical performance of blend polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) Nano fibers at various blend ratios with drug loading up to 40 wt.%. Results from uniaxial tensile tests suggested that Nano fibers made from various PCL/PLGA blends and drug loadings exhibited strong drug-polymer interactions. Average Young’s moduli and tensile strength of blank PCL/PLGA Nano fibers gradually increased with increasing PLGA contents in the blend Nano fibers. However, TFV loaded Nano fibers revealed a different trend in mechanical properties as comparing to blank Nano fibers, indicating the eff ects of drug-polymer interactions. In particular, PCL/PLGA 20/80 Nano fi bers received minimal changes in mechanical properties due to off setting effects in drug-polymer interactions at drug loading up to 40 wt.%. Tensile samples collected from the release media at predetermined time points showed signifi cant decreases in average Young’s modulus and tensile strength as compared to the blank Nano fibers. The additional loss of mechanical properties was associated with drug release and biodegradation of polymer matrix. Interestingly, TFV release rates increased in prestretched Nano fibers. Mechanical assessments on drug partition in PCL/PLGA Nano fibers suggested higher drug content in the PCL phase than in the PLGA phase. This study contributes signifi cantly to the understanding of drug-polymer interactions in electrospun drug-eluting Nano fibers and provides important information for implantable therapeutic biomaterials in future clinical applications.