Materials and methods: In this study, the hybrid scaffold based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blended with metallocene polyethylene (mPE) and plectranthus amboinicus (PA) was fabricated for bone tissue engineering via electrospinning. The fabricated hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle measurement, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and hemolytic assays were used to investigate the blood compatibility of the prepared hybrid nanocomposites.
Results: The prepared hybrid nanocomposites showed reduced fiber diameter (238±45 nm) and also increased porosity (87%) with decreased pore diameter (340±86 nm) compared with pure PVA. The interactions between PVA, mPE, and PA were identified by the formation of the additional peaks as revealed in FTIR. Furthermore, the prepared hybrid nanocomposites showed a decreased contact angle of 51°±1.32° indicating a hydrophilic nature and exhibited lower thermal stability compared to pristine PVA. Moreover, the mechanical results revealed that the electrospun scaffold showed an improved tensile strength of 3.55±0.29 MPa compared with the pristine PVA (1.8±0.52 MPa). The prepared hybrid nanocomposites showed delayed blood clotting as noted in APTT and PT assays indicating better blood compatibility. Moreover, the hemolysis assay revealed that the hybrid nanocomposites exhibited a low hemolytic index of 0.6% compared with pure PVA, which was 1.6% suggesting the safety of the developed nanocomposite to red blood cells (RBCs).
Conclusion: The prepared nanocomposites exhibited better physico-chemical properties, sufficient porosity, mechanical strength, and blood compatibility, which favors it as a valuable candidate in bone tissue engineering for repairing the bone defects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five polymer types, namely hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Eudragit S100, and Eudragit SR100, were used to prepare aceclofenac buccal film formulation either separately or combined by solvent-casting method. These formulations were evaluated in terms of physical appearance, folding test, film weight and thickness, drug content, percentage of elongation, moisture uptake, water vapor permeability, and in vitro drug release.
RESULTS: The addition of Eudragit polymer in most of the produced buccal films was unacceptable with low folding endurance. However, the dissolution profile of buccal films made from PVA and Eudragit SR100 provided a controlled drug release profile.
CONCLUSION: Buccal films can be formulated using different polymers either individually or in combination to obtain the drug release profile required to achieve a desired treatment goal. Furthermore, the property of the buccal films depends on the type and concentration of the polymer used.