Electrospun PVP–indomethacin constituents for transdermal dressings and drug delivery devices

A method in layering dressings with a superficial active layer of sub-micrometer scaled fibrous structures is demonstrated. For this, polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP)–indomethacin (INDO) fibres (5% w/v PVP, 5% w/w indomethacin, using a 50:50 ethanol–methanol solvent system) were produced at different flow rates (50 μL/min and 100 μL/min) via a modified electrospinning device head (applied voltage varied between 15 ± 2 kV). We further assessed these structures for their morphological, physical and chemical properties using SEM, AFM, DSC, XRD, FTIR and HPLC-UV. The average diameter of the resulting 3D (ca. 500 nm in height) PVP–INDO fibres produced at 50 μL/min flow rate was 2.58 ± 0.30 μm, while an almost two-fold increase in the diameter was observed (5.22 ± 0.83 μm) when the flow rate was doubled. However, both of these diameters were appreciably smaller than the existing dressing fibres (ca. 30 μm), which were visible even when layered with the active spun fibres. Indomethacin was incorporated in the amorphous state. The encapsulation efficiency was 75% w/w, with complete drug release in 45 min. The advantages are the ease of fabrication and deposition onto any existing normal or functionalised dressing (retaining the original fabric functionality), elimination of topical product issues (application, storage and transport), rapid release of active and controlled loading of drug content (fibre layer).