Nanang Qosim, Gareth R. Williams, Mohan Edirisinghe
Pressure-spinning is a straightforward method for manufacturing core-sheath fibers with diameters spanning from the submicrometer to micrometer scale. In this study, for the first time, a combination of cellulose acetate (CA)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is utilized as a pressure-spun fiber matrix, despite CA having traditionally been regarded as non-pressure-spinnable. The fibers are then loaded with ibuprofen to create a biphasic drug delivery system. The resulting fibers are amorphous and cylindrical with smooth surfaces, with diameters ranging from 370 nm to 1 µm. It is observed that higher ibuprofen concentrations increase fiber diameter, while the application of higher spinning parameters has the opposite effect. In vitro dissolution tests reveal a dual-phase release profile, with an initial burst release due to the hydrophilic PVP sheath, followed by a sustained release phase attributed to the hydrophobic CA core. The release profile can then be tuned through fiber diameter and drug concentration adjustments. Notably, after 8 weeks of storage under ambient conditions, the fibers maintain an amorphous structure and consistent release profiles, showcasing excellent stability. These findings highlight pressure-spinning as a versatile technique for fabricating core-sheath nanofibers with customizable drug release, offering practical advantages for pharmaceutical applications in terms of enhancing therapeutic precision and patient outcomes. © 2025 The Author(s)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Jawa Timur, Indonesia; UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom