Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application

Sinem Saar; Fatma Nur Tuğcu Demiröz; Fusun Acarturk

doi:10.52794/hujpharm.1764755

Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers represent an excellent alternative to classical vaginal dosage forms due to flexibility, high loading capacity, high mucoadhesive strength and enhanced patient compliance. Eudragit®s, which are synthetic polymers composed of methacrylate monomers, are preferred for vaginal drug delivery. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate Eudragit®-based nanofiber formulations for vaginal drug delivery. Nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning. Eudragit® E100 at varying polymer concentrations dissolved in an ethanol:dimethylformamide mixture (7:3, v/v). The polymer solutions were characterized in terms of surface tension, viscosity, and electrical conductivity. Thermal behavior of both the raw polymer and the nanofiber formulations was analyzed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Surface wettability was assessed by contact angle measurements using an optical tensiometer. The mechanical strength and mucoadhesive properties of the nanofibers were evaluated using a texture analyzer. The viscosity, surface tension and conductivity of the polymer solutions were found to be suitable for electrospinning. All formulations had hydrophobic properties. Mechanical properties of formulations were increased with increasing polymer concentration. Formulation E4 exhibited the highest mucoadhesion value among all tested formulations, clearly demonstrating to adhere to the mucosal surface. It was seen that Eudragit-based formulations may be a potential platform for vaginal application.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Gazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

Project Number

02/2020-17

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval is not required for this study.

Thanks

This study was supported by Gazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit under grant number 02/2020-17. The authors would like to thank Evonik Industries for kindly providing Eudragit® E100 for research purposes.

References

1. Subi MTM, Nandhakumar S, Vasanthi HR. Vaginal drug delivery system: A promising route of drug administration for local and systemic diseases. Drug Discov. Today. 2024:104012. https://doi.org/10.1517/17425247.2011.600119
2. Yu T, Malcolm K, Woolfson D, Jones DS, Andrews GP. Vaginal gel drug delivery systems: understanding rheological characteristics and performance. Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. 2011;8(10):1309-22. https://doi.org/10.1517/17425247.2011.600119
3. Ensign LM, Cone R, Hanes J. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery to the vagina: a review. J. Control. Release. 2014;190:500-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.04.033
4. Cazorla-Luna R, Ruiz-Caro R, Veiga M-D, Malcolm RK, Lamprou DA. Recent advances in electrospun nanofiber vaginal formulations for women's sexual and reproductive health. Int. J. Pharm. 2021;607:121040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121040
5. Tuğcu-Demiröz F, Saar S, Kara AA, Yıldız A, Tunçel E, Acartürk F. Development and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles loaded nanofiber hybrid system for vaginal controlled release of benzydamine. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 2021;161:105801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105801
6. Tort S, Han D, Frantz E, Steckl AJ. Controlled drug release of parylene-coated pramipexole nanofibers for transdermal applications. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2021;409:126831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2021.126831
7. Blakney AK, Ball C, Krogstad EA, Woodrow KA. Electrospun fibers for vaginal anti-HIV drug delivery. Antiviral Res. 2013;100:S9-S16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.09.022
8. Minooei F, Gilbert NM, Zhang L, Sarah Necamp M, Mahmoud MY, Kyser AJ, et al. Rapid-dissolving electrospun nanofibers for intra-vaginal antibiotic or probiotic delivery. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 2023;190:81-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.07.009

9. Vidyadhari A, Singh AK, Ralli T, Parvez S, Kohli K. Drug-loaded electrospun nanofiber for Vulvovaginal candidiasis: A systematic literature review. Clin. Epidemiol. Glob. Health. 2023;24:101420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101420
10. Pradhan M, Basha NS, Sahu KK, Yadav K, Dubey A, Pradhan HK, Kirubakaran J. Engineering Nanofibers for Cutaneous Drug Delivery Systems and Therapeutic Applications. Med. Nov. Technol. Devices. 2025:100386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medntd.2025.100386
11. Yıldız A, Kara AA, Acartürk F. Peptide-protein based nanofibers in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2020;148:1084-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.275
12. Tuğcu-Demiröz F, Saar S, Tort S, Acartürk F. Electrospun metronidazole-loaded nanofibers for vaginal drug delivery. Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 2020;46(6):1015-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/03639045.2020.1767125
13. Wang C, Wang W, Qi H, Dai Y, Jiang S, Ding B, et al. Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: From academic research to industrial production. Prog. Mater. Sci. 2025:101494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2025.101494
14. Saar S, Demiröz FNT. Evaluation of Mechanical and Mucoadhesive Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibers As Vaginal Drug Delivery System. FABAD J. Pharm. Sci. 2023;48(2):219-30. https://doi.org/10.55262/fabadeczacilik.1268029
15. Xing J, Zhang M, Liu X, Wang C, Xu N, Xing D. Multi-material electrospinning: from methods to biomedical applications. Mater. Today Bio. 2023;21:100710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100710
16. Turanlı Y, Tort S, Acartürk F. Development and characterization of methylprednisolone loaded delayed release nanofibers. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2019;49:58-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2018.10.031
17. Chen H, Su J, Brennan CS, Van Der Meeren P, Zhang N, Tong Y, Wang P. Recent developments of electrospun zein nanofibres: Strategies, fabrication and therapeutic applications. Mater. Today Adv. 2022;16:100307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100307
18. Ataei M, Afrasiabi Garekani H, Alizadeh Sani M, Julian Mcclements D, Sadeghi F. Evaluation of polyvinyl pyrrolidone nanofibers for encapsulation, protection, and release of curcumin: Impact on in vitro bioavailability. J. Mol. Liq. 2024;397:124115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2024.124115
19. Krogstad EA, Ramanathan R, Nhan C, Kraft JC, Blakney AK, Cao S, et al. Nanoparticle-releasing nanofiber composites for enhanced in vivo vaginal retention. Biomaterials. 2017;144:1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.07.034
20. Singhal P. Preparation and characterization of poly (E-CAPROLACTONE) nano fibers by electrospinning technique for tissue enginerring applications. Mater. Today Proc. 2021;37:2997-3001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.08.716
21. Aranaz I, Alcántara AR, Civera MC, Arias C, Elorza B, Heras Caballero A, Acosta N. Chitosan: An Overview of Its Properties and Applications. Polymers. 2021;13(19):3256. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13193256
22. Satchanska G, Davidova S, Petrov PD. Natural and Synthetic Polymers for Biomedical and Environmental Applications. Polymers. 2024;16(8):1159. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081159
23. Gonciarz W, Balcerczak E, Brzeziński M, Jeleń A, Pietrzyk-Brzezińska AJ, Narayanan VHB, Chmiela M. Chitosan-based formulations for therapeutic applications. A recent overview. J. Biomed. Sci. 2025;32(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-025-01161-7
24. Bolívar-Monsalve EJ, Alvarez MM, Hosseini S, Espinosa-Hernandez MA, Ceballos-González CF, Sanchez-Dominguez M, et al. Engineering bioactive synthetic polymers for biomedical applications: a review with emphasis on tissue engineering and controlled release. Mater. Adv. 2021;2(14):4447-78. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ma00092f
25. Xue J, Wu T, Dai Y, Xia Y. Electrospinning and Electrospun Nanofibers: Methods, Materials, and Applications. Chem. Rev. 2019;119(8):5298-415. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00593
26. Reddy MSB, Ponnamma D, Choudhary R, Sadasivuni KK. A Comparative Review of Natural and Synthetic Biopolymer Composite Scaffolds. Polymers. 2021;13(7):1105. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13071105
27. Nikam A, Sahoo PR, Musale S, Pagar RR, Paiva-Santos AC, Giram PS. A Systematic Overview of Eudragit® Based Copolymer for Smart Healthcare. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(2):587. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020587
28. Yoo J-W, Giri N, Lee CH. pH-sensitive Eudragit nanoparticles for mucosal drug delivery. Int. J. Pharm. 2011;403(1-2):262-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.10.032
29. Patra CN, Priya R, Swain S, Kumar Jena G, Panigrahi KC, Ghose D. Pharmaceutical significance of Eudragit: A review. Future J. Pharm. Sci. 2017;3(1):33-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fjps.2017.02.001
30. Alasino RV, Leonhard V, Bianco ID, Beltramo DM. Eudragit E100 surface activity and lipid interactions. Colloids Surf. B Biointerfaces. 2012;91:84-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2011.10.041
31. Baranauskaite J, Adomavičiūtė E, Jankauskaitė V, Marksa M, Barsteigienė Z, Bernatoniene J. Formation and investigation of electrospun Eudragit E100/oregano mats. Molecules. 2019;24(3):628. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24030628
32. Turanlı Y, Acartürk F. Fabrication and characterization of budesonide loaded colon-specific nanofiber drug delivery systems using anionic and cationic polymethacrylate polymers. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2021;63:102511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102511
33. Małolepsza-Jarmołowska K, Kubis A. Studies on gynaecological hydrophilic lactic acid preparations. Part 3: Effects of chitosan on the properties of methylcellulose gels. Die Pharmazie. 2000;55(8):610-1.
34. Vedha Hari B, Narayanan N, Dhevedaran K. Efavirenz–eudragit E-100 nanoparticle-loaded aerosol foam for sustained release: In-vitro and ex-vivo evaluation. Chem. Pap. 2015;69(2):358-67. https://doi.org/10.1515/chempap-2015-0005
35. Chinnappan BA, Krishnaswamy M, Xu H, Hoque ME. Electrospinning of biomedical nanofibers/nanomembranes: Effects of process parameters. Polymers. 2022;14(18):3719. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14183719
36. Turanlı Y, Birer M, Birer YT, Uyar R, Dikmen BY, Acartürk F. Oral fast-dissolving risperidone loaded electrospun nanofiber drug delivery systems for antipsychotic therapy. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2024;92:105262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2023.105262
37. Rüzgar G, Birer M, Tort S, Acartürk F. Studies on improvement of water-solubility of curcumin with electrospun nanofibers. FABAD J. Pharm. Sci. 2013;38(3):143.
38. Gajewski A. A couple new ways of surface tension determination. Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 2017;115:909-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.08.050
39. Birer M, Kara AA, Yurdakok-Dikmen B, Uyar R, Aralan G, Birer YT, et al. Electrospun hesperidin nanofibers induce a cytoprotective effect on sodium-fluoride induced oxidative stress in vitro. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2024;92:105388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.105388
40. Birer M, Acartürk F. Telmisartan loaded polycaprolactone/gelatin-based electrospun vascular scaffolds. Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater. 2022;71(11):858-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00914037.2021.1915785
41. Tort S, Yıldız A, Tuğcu-Demiröz F, Akca G, Kuzukıran Ö, Acartürk F. Development and characterization of rapid dissolving ornidazole loaded PVP electrospun fibers. Pharm. Dev. Technol. 2019;24(7):864-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/10837450.2019.1615088
42. Tort S, Acartürk F. Preparation and characterization of electrospun nanofibers containing glutamine. Carbohydr. Polym. 2016;152:802-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.07.028
43. Tuğcu-Demiröz F, Acartürk F, Erdoğan D. Development of long-acting bioadhesive vaginal gels of oxybutynin: Formulation, in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Int. J. Pharm. 2013;457(1):25-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.09.003
44. Rüzgar Özemre G, Kara AA, Pezik E, Tort S, Vural İ, Acartürk F. Preparation of nanodelivery systems for oral administration of low molecular weight heparin. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2023;79:104068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2022.104068
45. Al-Abduljabbar A, Farooq I. Electrospun polymer nanofibers: processing, properties, and applications. Polymers. 2022;15(1):65. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010065
46. Sánchez-Cid P, Rubio-Valle JF, Jiménez-Rosado M, Pérez-Puyana V, Romero A. Effect of solution properties in the development of cellulose derivative nanostructures processed via electrospinning. Polymers. 2022;14(4):665. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040665
47. Pillay V, Dott C, Choonara YE, Tyagi C, Tomar L, Kumar P, et al. A review of the effect of processing variables on the fabrication of electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery applications. J. Nanomater. 2013;2013(1):789289. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/789289
48. Linares V, Yarce CJ, Echeverri JD, Galeano E, Salamanca CH. Relationship between degree of polymeric ionisation and hydrolytic degradation of Eudragit® E polymers under extreme acid conditions. Polymers. 2019;11(6):1010. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11061010
49. Riaz U, Ashraf SM. Characterization of Polymer Blends with FTIR Spectroscopy. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA; 2014. p. 625-78. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527645602.ch20
50. Vlachou M, Kikionis S, Siamidi A, Kyriakou S, Tsotinis A, Ioannou E, Roussis V. Development and characterization of Eudragit®-based electrospun nanofibrous mats and their formulation into nanofiber tablets for the modified release of furosemide. Pharmaceutics. 2019;11(9):480. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11090480
51. Jeganathan B, Prakya V. Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes of Eudragit® EPO with Hypromellose Acetate Succinate and Eudragit® EPO with Hypromellose Phthalate as Potential Carriers for Oral Controlled Drug Delivery. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2015;16(4):878-88. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-014-0252-2
52. Alharbi N, Daraei A, Lee H, Guthold M. The effect of molecular weight and fiber diameter on the mechanical properties of single, electrospun PCL nanofibers. Mater. Today Commun. 2023;35:105773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.105773
53. Ding Y, Dou C, Chang S, Xie Z, Yu D-G, Liu Y, Shao J. Core–shell eudragit s100 nanofibers prepared via triaxial electrospinning to provide a colon-targeted extended drug release. Polymers. 2020;12(9):2034. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092034
54. Abdel-Rahman LM, Eltaher HM, Abdelraouf K, Bahey-El-Din M, Ismail C, Kenawy E-RS, El-Khordagui LK. Vancomycin-functionalized Eudragit-based nanofibers: Tunable drug release and wound healing efficacy. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2020;58:101812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101812
55. Pérez-González GL, Villarreal-Gómez LJ, Serrano-Medina A, Torres-Martínez EJ, Cornejo-Bravo JM. Mucoadhesive electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery systems: applications of polymers and the parameters’ roles. Int. J. Nanomed. 2019:5271-85. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S193328
56. Cazorla-Luna R, Notario-Pérez F, Martín-Illana A, Bedoya L-M, Tamayo A, Rubio J, et al. Development and In Vitro-Ex Vivo Characterization of Vaginal Mucoadhesive Bilayer Films Based on Ethylcellulose and Biopolymers for Vaginal Sustained Release of Tenofovir. Biomacromolecules. 2020;21(6):2309-19. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00249
57. Tuğcu-Demiröz F. Vaginal delivery of benzydamine hydrochloride through liposomes dispersed in mucoadhesive gels. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2017;65(7):660-7. ttps://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.c17-00133
58. Müller L, Rosenbaum C, Rump A, Grimm M, Klammt F, Kleinwort A, et al. Determination of Mucoadhesion of Polyvinyl Alcohol Films to Human Intestinal Tissue. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(6):1740. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061740
59. Thirawong N, Nunthanid J, Puttipipatkhachorn S, Sriamornsak P. Mucoadhesive properties of various pectins on gastrointestinal mucosa: An in vitro evaluation using texture analyzer. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 2007;67(1):132-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2007.01.010

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Delivery Technologies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sinem Saar
0000-0001-6892-5497
Türkiye

Fatma Nur Tuğcu Demiröz ^*
0000-0002-9468-3329
Türkiye

Fusun Acarturk
0000-0001-9515-750X
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 1, 2025

Submission Date

August 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 45 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1764755

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA85KX66LF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Saar, S., Tuğcu Demiröz, F. N., & Acarturk, F. (2025). Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy, 45(3), 245-254. https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1764755

AMA

1.Saar S, Tuğcu Demiröz FN, Acarturk F. Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application. HUJPHARM. 2025;45(3):245-254. doi:10.52794/hujpharm.1764755

Chicago

Saar, Sinem, Fatma Nur Tuğcu Demiröz, and Fusun Acarturk. 2025. “Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application”. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy 45 (3): 245-54. https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1764755.

EndNote

Saar S, Tuğcu Demiröz FN, Acarturk F (September 1, 2025) Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy 45 3 245–254.

IEEE

[1]S. Saar, F. N. Tuğcu Demiröz, and F. Acarturk, “Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application”, HUJPHARM, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 245–254, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.52794/hujpharm.1764755.

ISNAD

Saar, Sinem - Tuğcu Demiröz, Fatma Nur - Acarturk, Fusun. “Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application”. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy 45/3 (September 1, 2025): 245-254. https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1764755.

JAMA

1.Saar S, Tuğcu Demiröz FN, Acarturk F. Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application. HUJPHARM. 2025;45:245–254.

MLA

Saar, Sinem, et al. “Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application”. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy, vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 245-54, doi:10.52794/hujpharm.1764755.

Vancouver

1.Sinem Saar, Fatma Nur Tuğcu Demiröz, Fusun Acarturk. Development of Mucoadhesive Nanofiber Platform Using Eudragit® E100 for Vaginal Application. HUJPHARM. 2025 Sep. 1;45(3):245-54. doi:10.52794/hujpharm.1764755

Cited By

Fabrication and characterization of prednisolone acetate-loaded electrospun mucoadhesive nanofibers for treatment of oral lichen planus

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-026-05189-w

Electrospun Tenofovir/Emtricitabine-Zein Nanofibers for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Platform against HIV through Vaginal Delivery

ACS Omega

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c08217