Formulation and characterization of floating cilostazol-loaded electrospun nanofibers

Cilostazol is considered a potential anti-platelets drug exhibiting also antithrombotic effects. Unfortunately, cilostazol shows low oral bioavailability due to its low aqueous solubility. Nanofibers are a promising new class of drug delivery materials that can improve the solubility of poorly soluble medications and prolong their release, thereby creating a gastro-retentive delivery system. This can be achieved by appropriate picking of polymers in the fabrication of the nanofibers . Consequently, the goal of this work was to create eudragit/ethyl cellulose-based nanofibers for enhancing and managing the release of the medication cilostazol. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the nanofibers' shape. Also floating behavior, drug content, drug solubility and drug release profile were determined for evaluation of the nanofiber. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the cilostazol-loaded nanofibers were smooth and uniform. Solubility study showed that nanofibers enhanced the cilostazol aqueous solubility by more than ten folds. The floating study showed that the nanofibers developed extended floating time. Drug content was satisfactory and reached 87.6%. Eudragit/ethyl cellulose nanofiber enhanced the solubility of cilostazol reaching 43.5% while only 11.6% for the unprocessed cilostazol after 24 hours exhibiting also sustained drug release profile.