Research Article

Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs

Volume: 55 Number: 3 January 14, 2026
EN

Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs

Abstract

Background and Aims: As the drug discoveries of the modern century have led to a rapid increase in the number of new drug candidates with low water solubility, nanofiber drug delivery systems have become a promising technology to increase the water solubility of drugs with a high surface-to-volume ratio. In this study, we aimed to prepare a nanofiber of a molecule with low water solubility and investigate its changing solubility properties. Methods: Three nanofiber dosage forms containing olanzapine (OLZ) active substance were developed by the electrospinning method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer. Drug loading efficiency, zeta potential determination, electrical conductivity, rheology, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to evaluate the in vitro characterisation of the formulations. The solubility profile of the optimised formulations in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer was evaluated. The stability of optimised formulations was evaluated in terms of physical properties (colour, shape, weight, diameter, and thickness) and drug amount for 35 days. Results: It was determined that the electrospinning property of the nanofiber preparation solution increased with the addition of ethanol to the polymer solvent medium. The active substance distribution in the nanofiber layer was more homogeneous in the N78 and N79 coded formulations with high zeta potential values compared to N69. Contrary to the homogeneous distribution problem, the loading efficiency of the N69-coded formulation containing chloroform (~29%) was higher than that of N79 (~9.8%). A 24-h solubility study in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer of the N78-coded formulation, which has an active ingredient loading efficiency of ~80.4%, confirmed the increased solubility of OLZ in water in the nanofiber drug delivery system. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to convert these model formulations into final drug products.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Delivery Technologies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 14, 2026

Submission Date

February 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 55 Number: 3

APA
Karamürsel, E., Uzel, E., Aydilek, N., Durgun, M. E., & Özsoy, Y. (2026). Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy, 55(3), 318-331. https://doi.org/10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537
AMA
1.Karamürsel E, Uzel E, Aydilek N, Durgun ME, Özsoy Y. Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs. iujp. 2026;55(3):318-331. doi:10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537
Chicago
Karamürsel, Elif, Egemen Uzel, Neriman Aydilek, Meltem Ezgi Durgun, and Yıldız Özsoy. 2026. “Preparation and in Vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs”. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy 55 (3): 318-31. https://doi.org/10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537.
EndNote
Karamürsel E, Uzel E, Aydilek N, Durgun ME, Özsoy Y (January 1, 2026) Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy 55 3 318–331.
IEEE
[1]E. Karamürsel, E. Uzel, N. Aydilek, M. E. Durgun, and Y. Özsoy, “Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs”, iujp, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 318–331, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537.
ISNAD
Karamürsel, Elif - Uzel, Egemen - Aydilek, Neriman - Durgun, Meltem Ezgi - Özsoy, Yıldız. “Preparation and in Vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs”. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy 55/3 (January 1, 2026): 318-331. https://doi.org/10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537.
JAMA
1.Karamürsel E, Uzel E, Aydilek N, Durgun ME, Özsoy Y. Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs. iujp. 2026;55:318–331.
MLA
Karamürsel, Elif, et al. “Preparation and in Vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs”. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy, vol. 55, no. 3, Jan. 2026, pp. 318-31, doi:10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537.
Vancouver
1.Elif Karamürsel, Egemen Uzel, Neriman Aydilek, Meltem Ezgi Durgun, Yıldız Özsoy. Preparation and in vitro Characterisation of Nanofibers for Enhancing the Water Solubility of Poorly Soluble Drugs. iujp. 2026 Jan. 1;55(3):318-31. doi:10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1635537