Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐based electrospun nanofibers for the sustained release of celecoxib: Characterization and evaluation of drug release mechanism

In this research, biodegradable/biocompatible nanofiber electrospun mats of PVA with 3% and 8% w/w of celecoxib (CX) were used for sustained release formulations of CX. The morphology of the nanofibers, distribution of the drug inside the nanofibers and possible reactions between polymers and CX in nanofibers were studied by SEM, XRD and FT‐IR techniques. In vitro CX release from the nanofiber mats were evaluated in solution of HCl (pH = 1.5) and carbonate buffer (pH = 8) through UV‐Vis spectroscopy technique. t_50% of CX release for 3% CX‐loaded PVA electrospun mats was 4.49, 8.16 and 13.40 h within environment of HCl, carbonate buffer and carbonate buffer after HCl, respectively. Drug release was dependent on the CX percent and release environment. Korsmeyer‐Peppas release exponent (n) indicates that CX release mechanism was Fickian diffusion for formulations of PVA nanofiber mats. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E221–E227, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers