title: Soluplus graft copolymer: potential novel carrier polymer in electrospinning of nanofibrous drug delivery systems for wound therapy.
abstract: Electrospinning is an effective method in preparing polymeric nanofibrous drug delivery systems (DDSs) for topical wound healing and skin burn therapy applications. The aim of the present study was to investigate a new synthetic graft copolymer (Soluplus) as a hydrophilic carrier polymer in electrospinning of nanofibrous DDSs. Soluplus (polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer (PCL-PVAc-PEG)) was applied in the nonwoven nanomats loaded with piroxicam (PRX) as a poorly water-soluble drug. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used in the physical characterization of nanofibrous DDSs. According to the SEM results, the drug-loaded PCL-PVAc-PEG nanofibers were circular in cross-section with an average diameter ranging from 500 nm up to 2  µm. Electrospinning stabilized the amorphous state of PRX. In addition, consistent and sustained-release profile was achieved with the present nanofibrous DDSs at the physiologically relevant temperature and pH applicable in wound healing therapy. In conclusion, electrospinning can be used to prepare nanofibrous DDSs of PCL-PVAc-PEG graft copolymer (Soluplus) and to stabilize the amorphous state of a poorly water-soluble PRX. The use of this synthetic graft copolymer can open new options to formulate nanofibrous DDSs for wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Urve
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2406-7675
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Paaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamm
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia ; Immunology Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laidmäe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lust
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Kalle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirsimäe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Peep
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7787-1232
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6813-4828
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kogermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5996-5144
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinämäki
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; C572167:polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols