Controlled release from thermo-sensitive PNVCL-co-MAA electrospun nanofibers: The effects of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of a drug

The thermo-sensitive copolymer poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-methacrylic acid) (PNVCL-co-MAA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization and the resulting nanofibers were fabricated using an electrospinning process. The molecular weight of the copolymer was adjusted by varying the content of methacrylic acid (MAA) while keeping that of N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) constant. Hydrophilic captopril and hydrophobic ketoprofen were used as model drugs, and PNVCL-co-MAA nanofibers were used as the drug carrier to investigate the effects of drug on its release properties from nanofibers at different temperatures. The results showed that slow release over several hours was observed at 40°C (above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNVCL-co-MAA), while the drugs exhibited a burst release of several seconds at 20°C (below the LCST). Drug release slowed with increasing content of the hydrophobic monomer NVCL. The hydrophilic captopril was released at a higher rate than the hydrophobic ketoprofen. The drug release characteristics were dependent on the temperature, the portion of hydrophilic groups and hydrophobic groups in the copolymer and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of drug. Study on the mechanism of release showed that Korsmeyer–Peppas model as a major drug release mechanism. Given these results, the PNVCL-co-MAA copolymers are proposed to have useful applications in intellectual drug delivery systems. [Display omitted] •A series of copolymers with different various molecular weights were synthesized.•Novel thermo-sensitive and biocompatible electrospun nanofibers were fabricated.•Effects of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of a drug on release were investigated.•The drug release mechanism from nanofibers was discussed.