Electrospinning to prepare water dispersible diniconazole/hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin nanofibers: increased bioavailability of diniconazole

BACKGROUND Diniconazole (DCZ) is a poorly water-soluble triazole fungicide. However, the water solubility of DCZ can be significantly enhanced by inclusion complexation with cyclodextrins. In order to improve the properties and bioavailability of pesticide fungicides DCZ, a new system of nanofibers was prepared by electrospinning and cyclodextrin encapsulation. RESULTS The possibility of DCZ entering the hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) cavity was evidenced by molecular simulation and then DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning. The formation of DCZ/HP-γ-CD complexes was confirmed by the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H-NMR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization. Then the physical and antifungal properties of DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers were investigated. The results showed that the thermal stability of DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers was increased by 32 °C and the water solubility in HP-γ-CD solutions was increased by 7.5 times. Through water solubility researches and in vitro release researches, DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers could quickly form a transparent solution and had a sustained release function. The antifungal researches showed that the antifungal performance of DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers increased by 2.05 times. CONCLUSIONS Based on the new system of DCZ/HP-γ-CD inclusion complex nanofibers, the performance of the fungicide DCZ was improved and the bioavailability was improved to comply with the ‘reduction and efficiency’ effect of green chemistry. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.