Investigating the Release of Methotrexate and 5-Fluorouracil Anticancer Drugs from Multi-Layered Nanofiber Structure of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan

Abstract

In this study, seven-layer nanofiber structures consisting of polycaprolactone/ chitosan polymers loaded with methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil anti-cancer drugs, for controlled drug delivery, were produced and evaluated. For this purpose, the second, fourth and sixth layers were loaded with drug and placed between the drug-free layers. The surface morphology of drug-free and drug-loaded nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) was used to study their chemical structure. The drug release rate in phosphate buffered saline (pH=7.4) and the released drug concentration were measured by spectrophotometry. Mechanical properties of single- and multi-layered samples were also investigated. SEM images showed formation of uniform and beadless fibers. FTIR spectrum confirmed presence of the drugs in the polymer mixture with no interaction. It was found that by increasing the chitosan content, a brittle structure with decreased elongation is formed. The release behavior of methotrexate and 5-Fluoracil drugs in neutral pH environment for 26 days was evaluated and the results exhibited a slow and sustained release.

Keywords

• drug delivery
• nanofibers
• polycaprolactone
• chitosan
• 5-fluorouracil
• methotrexate.