Electrospinning of doxorubicin loaded silica/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) hybrid fiber mats for sustained drug release

Mohammed I El Gohary, Bothaina M Abd El Hady, Aziza A Al Saeed, Emad Tolba, Ahlam M I El Rashedi and Safaa Saleh

Abstract

Loading of anticancer drugs into electrospun fiber matrices is a portentous approach for clinical treatment of diseased tissues or organs. In this study, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is added to silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) during the formation of SiO₂ via the sol-gel approach. The obtained DOX@SiO₂  nanoparticles are then added to poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend before electrospinning process via different methods. The effects of DOX addition as a free form or as DOX@SiO₂  nanoparticles on physical and chemical properties of obtained PCL-PEO fibers, as well as release profiles are evaluated to give a continual DOX release for several days. The morphology observed with scanning electron microscope (FESEM) revealed significant changes in the average diameter of obtained fibers ranging from 2164 nm to 659 nm and distribution of drug-loaded nanoparticles in the final mats according to the mode of additions. With the same manner, the releasing performances of obtained mats are quite different. Therefore, fabrication of drug loaded mats would offer a powerful approach to minimize serious side effects for clinical patients and allows us to control the drug concentration in the bloodstream