Melt electrospinning vs. solution electrospinning: A comparative study of drug-loaded poly (ε-caprolactone) fibres

- Curcumin-loaded poly (ε-caprolactone) electrospun by melting and solution methods
- Melt electrospun fibres were more crystalline than solution electrospun fibres.
- Melt electrospun fibres released high amounts of drug slowly and without bursting.

Curcumin-loaded poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibres prepared by melt and solution electrospinning methods were both fabricated to investigate their difference in characterization and drug release behaviour. The increasing curcumin content did not influence the morphologies of melt electrospun fibre, but enhanced the range of diameter distribution of solution electrospun fibre owing to the curcumin aggregates in the spinning solution which disturbed the stability of jet. Moreover, a large amount of curcumin with amorphous state could be loaded in the melt electrospun fibre. Whereas the limited solubility of curcumin in the solvent led to the drug aggregates dispersing within the solution electrospun fibre. In addition, the melt electrospun fibres had low drug release rate without burst release on the profiles due to the high crystallinity in the fibre, but high drug release rate and burst release occurred on the release profiles of the solution electrospun fibres because of their low crystallinity, porous structure and roughness surface.

Characterization and drug release behaviours between melt and solution electrospun fibres were investigated. The melt electrospun fibres could load a high content of drug that was slowly released during a long period, demonstrating their potential application as long-term drug release system.223