Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
FABAD Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, cilt.48, sa.2, ss.219-230, 2023 (Scopus)
Electrospinning is a versatile and inexpensive technique to produce nanofibers. Nanofibers can be an excellent alternative to classical dosage forms in vaginal applications due to high surface area/volume ratio, high encapsulation efficiency, and mucoadhesive properties. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a biocompatible, easily degradable, and flexible polymer with mucoadhesive properties used in industrial, commercial, and medical applications. The scope of this study is to characterize electrospun nanofibers produced with different PVA types for vaginal use. PVA nanofibers were produced using the electrospinning method. Nanofiber formulations were prepared by dissolving PVA in dimethylformamide (DMF): distilled water (1:1) solvent system. Nanofibers were produced with three different types of PVA at 5%, 7.5%, and 10% concentrations. The surface tension, viscosity, and conductivity properties of the polymer mixtures were measured for the electrospinning process and these parameters were found suitable for nanofiber production. While the viscosity increased with increasing polymer concentration, the surface tension values were found to be close to each other since the solvent system was the same. The mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of nanofibers were examined and compared. Mucoadhesive and mechanical properties of nanofiber formulations differed depending on molecular weight and electrospinning process. The nanofiber formulations produced with Polyviol 13/140 were found suitable for vaginal applications in terms of their mechanical and mucoadhesive properties. PVA nanofibers can be a good alternative as a drug delivery system in vaginal applications.