The use of polymer blends to improve stability and performance of electrospun solid dispersions: The role of miscibility and phase separation

Solid dispersion-based nanofiber formulations of poorly soluble drugs prepared by electrospinning (ES) with a water-soluble polymer, can offer significant improvements in drug dissolution for oral administration. However, when hygroscopic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are used, environmental moisture sorption lead to poor physical stability on storage. This study investigated the use polymer blends modify PVP-based ES model drug, fenofibrate (FF), improve its without compromising enhancement. FF-PVP dispersions demonstrated clear enhancement, but storage against high humidity. Polymer PVP Eudragit E, Soluplus and hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), were selected because low intrinsic these polymers. The drug-polymer polymer-polymer miscibility revealed that FF was more miscible E than HPMCAS, HPMCAS Soluplus. led different configurations phase separation placebo drug-loaded fibres. vitro release data confirmed PVP-Eudragit retained enhancement formulation, whereas PVP-Soluplus reduced rate comparison formulations. results uptake reduced, formulation deformation occurred phase-separated blend importance understanding fibre mats. findings provide insight into design balanced improved stability.