Introduction
In recent years, topical drug delivery has become more popular. A topical drug delivery system (TDDS) is a noninvasive drug administration route that applies drugs locally to the skin, eyes, or mucous membrane for either systemic treatment or localized treatment. TDDS is an important approach to optimize the therapeutic potential of a drug because it permits the passage of beneficial drugs directly through the external layers of the skin, and provides improved patient compliance, adherence, safety and comfort. To improve the performance of the TDDS and to fulfill its potential, appropriate drug carriers and their design approaches for drug delivery must be adopted.
Background
The electrospun technology, also known as electrospinning, is an advanced process in which a polymer solution is electrically charged and extruded in a fine jet onto a collecting electrode. An electric field is applied to the polymer solution to produce a fine continuous nanofiber. The electrospun nanofibers have higher absorption and permeability than traditional polymers, allowing drugs to be absorbed into the skin more effectively. This technology has been used to develop new topical drug delivery systems (TDDS) with superior drug absorption and permeability.
Principles of Electrospun TDDS
The electrospun TDDS is a topical drug delivery system, which consists of two parts, the drug and the vehicle. The drug can be either liquid or solid, but it must be compatible with the electrospinning process. The vehicle is a polymeric material, which acts as a carrier for the drug. The drug is dispersed in a polymer solution, which is then electrospun into nanofibers. The electrospun TDDS is a non-invasive drug delivery system, which allows drugs to be absorbed into the skin more efficiently, with higher drug concentrations and lower risk of side effects.
Advantages of the Electrospun TDDS
Compared to traditional topical drug delivery systems, the electrospun TDDS has several advantages. The electrospun TDDS is more stable and uniform than other TDDSs, which improves the efficiency and safety of drug delivery. Drugs can be released more efficiently and at a uniform rate. The nanofibers also provide a more uniform drug distribution throughout the skin, resulting in a more efficient drug absorption. Furthermore, the electrospun TDDS enables a greater penetration of drugs into the skin, which allows for a higher concentration of the drug. The nanofibers also provide increased flexibility and adhesion to the skin, making the TDDS more comfortable to wear. Finally, due to the smaller size of the nanofibers, the drug can be absorbed more easily, resulting in faster onset of the drug.
Challenges of the Electrospun TDDS
Despite the advantages of the electrospun TDDS, there are some challenges that must be addressed. One of the major challenges is the compatibility of the drug with the vehicle. The electrospinning process requires the drug to be in a soluble state, and if the drug is not compatible with the vehicle, the electrospinning process will not be efficient and will likely produce unstable and low-quality nanofibers. In addition, due to the small size of the nanofibers, it is difficult to measure the drug concentration of the TDDS, which can lead to a lack of control over the dose delivered.
Conclusion
The electrospun TDDS is an advanced drug delivery system that offers several advantages over traditional TDDSs, such as higher drug absorption and permeability, increased stability and uniformity, increased flexibility and adhesion to the skin, and faster onset of action. Despite these advantages, there are some challenges that must be addressed, such as the compatibility of the drug with the vehicle and the difficulty of measuring the drug concentration of the TDDS. Nonetheless, the electrospun TDDS shows tremendous promise in the area of topical drug delivery, and further research is needed to optimize its performance and to fulfill its potential.
