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Electrospun Nanofibers in Oral Drug Delivery

Pharmaceutical Research volume 27, pages 576–588 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to enhance the delivery of drugs with limited absorption due to poor solubility/dissolution, approaches are being developed to improve the dissolution rates and solubility of drug molecules. These approaches include identification of water-soluble salts of parent drugs, preparation of stable amorphous drug formulations, inclusion of solubility-enhancing agents in the dosage form, and particle size reduction. Technologies to reduce drug particle size to sub-micrometer range are being applied to product development more frequently. Electrospinning is being considered as one of the technologies which can produce nanosized drugs incorporated in polymeric nanofibers. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the release rates of drugs from these nanofiber formulations are enhanced compared to those from original drug substance. This technology has the potential to be used for enhancing the oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Philip L Smith, Charles Owusu-Fordjour, John Warr, Lee Katrinic, Wei Shi, Ronald Raby and Kelly Doan for their contributions to the completion of this manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Development, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 19426, USA

    Francis Ignatious, Linghong Sun & John Baldoni

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D China, GlaxoSmithKline, No.3 Building, 898 Halei Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Chao-Pin Lee

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  1. Francis Ignatious
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  2. Linghong Sun
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  3. Chao-Pin Lee
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  4. John Baldoni
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Correspondence to Francis Ignatious.

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Ignatious, F., Sun, L., Lee, CP. et al. Electrospun Nanofibers in Oral Drug Delivery. Pharm Res 27, 576–588 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-010-0061-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-010-0061-6

KEY WORDS

  • bioavailability
  • drug delivery
  • electrospinning
  • nanofiber
  • solubility