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Optimization of the emulsion electrospinning for increased activity of biopharmaceuticals
* 1 , 2, 3 , 4 , 4
1  Politechnika Poznańska
2  Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
3  InoCure s.r.o. R&B lab, Prumyslová 1960, 250 88 Celákovice, Czech Republic
4  InoCure

Abstract:

High-throughput emulsion electrospinning is a technology that can enable practical nanofiber application for drug delivery. Core-shell structure of the electrospun fibers allows the encapsulation of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), protects their activity, and controls their release rate. However, electrospinning using high flow rates usually requires high electric fields that may negatively affect the activity of the biomolecules. Moreover charged APIs tend to migrate to the surface of the fibers during the electrospinning process leading to the high burst release. That is disadvantageous when long-term sustained release is needed. We have investigated the influence of the electrospinning parameters such as distances between the electrode and collector and the applied voltages to both, activity of the encapsulated proteins and their burst release. We have also tested the influence of number of the stabilizers, e.g. trehalose, pluronic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, on their ability to preserve the protein activity, and the influence of the different molecular weights of polyvinyl alcohol on the ability to sustain the release. Our results demonstrate the importance of the water phase composition to both activity and release and are critical for further understanding of the processes taking place during the emulsion electrospinning.

Keywords: high-throughput electrospinning; emulsion electrospinning; biopharmaceuticals; protein activity; drug release
Comments on this paper
Amanda Pacholak
Comment
Hi Natalia, congratulations on this nice work. Do you have any idea why the electrospinning voltage didn't affect the proteins investigated? Which factor that may influence the proteins during electrospinning is the most important (PVA molecular weight, protein stabilisers etc.)?
Natalia Burlaga
Thank you Amanda for the comment. Referring to your first question, PVA 56-98 kDa was present in the emulsion in the third experiment. I think that it was the composition of the emulsion used in this research that made it insensitive to voltage changes during electrospinning process. Answering your second question, it is impossible to say unequivocally which of the investigated factors affecting the properties of a protein is the most important, because a small change in each of them may prove crucial for fibers morphology, burst release and protein activity. Certainly, more research is needed on this topic.



 
 
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