Zein/HPMC-AS nanofibers containing metronidazole benzoate formed by electrospinning

Full text: Electrospinning is a versatile technology that allows the fabrication of micro/nanofibers from polymeric solutions, which can be applied to a wide range of materials and processes such as reinforcing composite, air and water filtration, sensors, multifunctional membranes for wound dressing and drug release. Thus, this work presented the production of micro/nanofibers by the electrospinning technique from polymeric solutions of Zein and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMC-AS) with proportions of Zein/HPMC-AS 3:2, 1:1 and 2:3. Metronidazole benzoate (BMDZ) was incorporated to fibers in order to investigate the modified release of drug for oral disease treatment. The fibers were characterized by infrared (IR), X-ray diffraction (XDR), thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XDR spectra indicated semicrystalline fibers, with a higher definition of the peak at approximately 23° due to the presence of BMDZ. Micrographs showed smooth cylindrical nanofibers with average diameter of 647 ± 127 nm without defects, such as beads ana nanospheres. There is no evidence of phase separation, indicating a good intermolecular interaction among the two polymers and the drug. (author)