Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Electrospun BAG/CMC/β-CD Nanofibers for Flutamide Drug Delivery

In this study, using a combination of bioactive glass (BAG), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), a novel nanofiber network was fabricated through the electrospinning method. The biocompatible BAG/CMC/β-CD nanofibers (NF) were optimized for the controlled release of flutamide, a hydrophobic anticancer drug, which was immobilized on the surface of nanofibers through chemical conjugation. The synthesized nanofibers were characterized by various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–Vis Spectroscopy. The drug loading and in vitro drug release studies at a pH of 7.4 investigated the high loading efficiency at 99.65% and the release without an initial burst of a high dosage of the drug in a few hours. The drug release achieved 100% within 12 h, following a sustained release pattern due to the slow degradation of the matrix. The findings suggest that BAG/CMC/β-CD NF could be a promising candidate for the flutamide drug delivery system due to overcoming the challenges of its poor bioavailability and low aqueous solubility.