Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment
Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively studied for encapsulated drugs releasing from the inside of the fiber matrix, but have been barely looked at for their potential to control release as a semi-permeable membrane. This study investigated molecular transport behaviors across nanofiber membra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/916 |
| _version_ | 1797529354576592896 |
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| author | Weiyi Liu Greg Walker Sally Price Xiangdong Yang Juan Li Craig Bunt |
| author_facet | Weiyi Liu Greg Walker Sally Price Xiangdong Yang Juan Li Craig Bunt |
| author_sort | Weiyi Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively studied for encapsulated drugs releasing from the inside of the fiber matrix, but have been barely looked at for their potential to control release as a semi-permeable membrane. This study investigated molecular transport behaviors across nanofiber membranes with different micro-structure sizes and compositions. Four types of membranes were made by 5% and 10% poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) solutions electro-spun with or without 50 nm calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) nanoparticles. The membranes were tested for thickness, fiber diameter, pore size, porosity, tensile strength and elongation, contact angle of water and their impacts on molecular transport behaviors. The presence of the CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles made the 5% membranes stronger and stiffer but the 10% membranes weaker and less stiff due to the different (covering or embedded) locations of the nanoparticles with the corresponding fibers. Solute transport studies using caffeine as the model drug found the 5% membranes further retarded release from the 10% membranes, regardless of only half the amount of material being used for synthesis. The addition of CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles aided the water permeation process and accelerated initial transports. The difference in release profiles between 5% and 10% membranes suggests different release mechanisms, with membrane-permeability dominated release for 5% PCL membranes and solute-concentration-gradient dominated release for 10% PCL membranes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:13:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6069d3fdd1db46118a63380da0c009b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:13:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6069d3fdd1db46118a63380da0c009b72023-11-22T01:01:38ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232021-06-0113691610.3390/pharmaceutics13060916Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release AssessmentWeiyi Liu0Greg Walker1Sally Price2Xiangdong Yang3Juan Li4Craig Bunt5Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7608, New ZealandSchool of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandFaculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7608, New ZealandInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertiliser, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertiliser, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaFaculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7608, New ZealandElectrospun nanofibers have been extensively studied for encapsulated drugs releasing from the inside of the fiber matrix, but have been barely looked at for their potential to control release as a semi-permeable membrane. This study investigated molecular transport behaviors across nanofiber membranes with different micro-structure sizes and compositions. Four types of membranes were made by 5% and 10% poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) solutions electro-spun with or without 50 nm calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) nanoparticles. The membranes were tested for thickness, fiber diameter, pore size, porosity, tensile strength and elongation, contact angle of water and their impacts on molecular transport behaviors. The presence of the CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles made the 5% membranes stronger and stiffer but the 10% membranes weaker and less stiff due to the different (covering or embedded) locations of the nanoparticles with the corresponding fibers. Solute transport studies using caffeine as the model drug found the 5% membranes further retarded release from the 10% membranes, regardless of only half the amount of material being used for synthesis. The addition of CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles aided the water permeation process and accelerated initial transports. The difference in release profiles between 5% and 10% membranes suggests different release mechanisms, with membrane-permeability dominated release for 5% PCL membranes and solute-concentration-gradient dominated release for 10% PCL membranes.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/916electrospinningsemi-permeable membranemembrane characterizationcontrolled releasenanoparticlesrelease mechanisms |
| spellingShingle | Weiyi Liu Greg Walker Sally Price Xiangdong Yang Juan Li Craig Bunt Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment Pharmaceutics electrospinning semi-permeable membrane membrane characterization controlled release nanoparticles release mechanisms |
| title | Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment |
| title_full | Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment |
| title_short | Electrospun Membranes as a Porous Barrier for Molecular Transport: Membrane Characterization and Release Assessment |
| title_sort | electrospun membranes as a porous barrier for molecular transport membrane characterization and release assessment |
| topic | electrospinning semi-permeable membrane membrane characterization controlled release nanoparticles release mechanisms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/916 |
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