Electrospun P(NVCL-co-MAA) nanofibers and their pH/temperature dual-response drug release profiles

In this work, pH/temperature dual-sensitive polymers of P(NVCL-co-MAA) with the increased low critical solution temperature (LCST) values of about 37 °C that differed from that of ~ 32 °C of pure poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) (PNVCL) were synthesized via radical polymerization. Then the nanofibers of P(NVCL-co-MAA) and its cospinned nanofibers with nifedipine (NIF) as drug model were fabricated by electrospinning method. Structures and the interactions within the components were detected by FT-IR, NMR, and XPS methods. The dual-responsive properties and the controlling release of the drug were investigated by water contact angle tests and in vitro drug release tested by UV-vis spectrophotometer. SEM was conducted to demonstrate the morphology of the nanofibers and the obvious improved stabilized morphology of the modified system within the aqueous media. The maintained morphology within the media and the obvious elongated releasing period of over 150 min at 37 °C and with pH of 1.99 both proved the promising prospects of the fabricated nanofibers as excellent carrier in drug delivery system. Graphical abstract