Processes taking place during the preparation and use of electrospun PLA fibers and their effect on controlled drug release

Abstract PLA fibers containing metronidazole as the active component were produced by electrospinning from a solvent mixture of dichloromethane (DCM) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The DMSO content spinning solution changed between 0 25 vol% in 5 steps. dried at different temperatures, processes taking place during fiber production drying followed thermogravimetric analysis differential scanning calorimetry. morphology structure studied microscopy X-ray diffraction. mechanical properties mats release drug also determined function processing parameters. results showed that several take subsequent handling including evaporation (DMSO), crystallization polymer, changing composition, phase separation consequent partitioning drug. crystalline changes considerably which determines their properties. rate is same order magnitude. both increases with temperature, but does not depend strongly on amount solution. Both released cover wide range depending parameters preparation technology. large functional obtained allows control kinetics to some extent.