Design and Characterization of Cyclosporine A-Loaded Nanofibers for Enhanced Drug Dissolution

[Image: see text] Despite widespread use as an immunosuppressant, the therapeutic efficacy of the undecapeptide cyclosporine A (CyA) is compromised when given by the oral route because of the innate hydrophobicity of the drug molecule, potentially leading to poor aqueous solubility and bioavailability. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize nanofibers based on the water-miscible polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), incorporating CyA preloaded into polymeric surfactants so as to promote micelle formation on hydration; therefore, this approach represents the novel combination of three dissolution enhancement methodologies, namely solid dispersion technology, micellar systems, and nanofibers with enhanced surface area. The preparation of the nanofibers was performed in two steps. First, mixed micelles composed of the water-soluble vitamin E derivative d-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate and the amphiphilic triblock polymer Pluronic F127 (Poloxamer 407) were prepared. The micelles were characterized in terms of size, surface charge, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and scanning electron and atomic force microscopy analysis. Nanofibers composed of PVP and the drug-loaded surfactant system were then prepared via electrospinning, with accompanying thermal, spectroscopic, and surface topological analysis. Dissolution studies indicated an extremely rapid dissolution profile for the fibers compared to the drug alone, while wettability studies also indicated a marked decrease in contact angle compared to the drug alone. Overall, the new approach appears to offer a viable means for considerably improving the dissolution of the hydrophobic peptide CyA, with associated implications for improved oral bioavailability.