Preparation and evaluation of electrospun nanofibers containing pectin and time-dependent polymers aimed for colonic drug delivery of celecoxib

The aim of this study was to prepare electrospun nanofibers of celecoxib using combination of time-dependent polymers with pectin to achieve a colon-specific drug delivery system for celecoxib.
Formulations were produced based on two multilevel 22 full factorial designs. The independent variables were the ratio of drug:time-dependent polymer (X1) and the amount of pec­tin in formulations (X2). Electrospinning process was used for preparation of nanofibers. The spinning solutions were loaded in 5 mL syringes. The feeding rate was fixed by a syringe pump at 2.0 mL/h and a high voltage supply at range 10-18 kV was applied for electrospinning. Electrospun nanofibers were collected and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and drug release in the acid and buffer with pH 6.8 with and without pectinase.
Electrospun nanofibers of celecoxib with appropriate morphological properties were produced via electrospinning process. Drug release from electrospun nanofibers was very low in the acidic media; while, drug release in the simulated colonic media was the highest from formulations containing pectin.
Formulation F2 (containing drug:ERS with the ratio of 1:2 and 10% pectin) exhibited acceptable morphological characteristics and protection of drug in the upper GI tract and could be a good candidate as a colonic drug delivery system for celecoxib.