ABSTRACT
The utilization of electrospinning in drug delivery has thrived in recent years, with the ability to incorporate drugsand enhance dissolution; this technique is employed to improve the dissolution of poorly water-soluble selectivephosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, tadalafil. The strategy involved direct electrospinning of tadalafil/polyvinylpyrrolidoneand polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution. The optimization process included a 32 full factorial design based on theinfluence of polymers concentration as independent variables on the electrospun yield, loading efficiency, nanofibersdiameter, number of beads, and in vitro release. Optimization studies revealed the negative influence of bothpolymers on the electrospun yield, while the loading efficiency and in vitro dissolution rate were reduced by the PEOconcentration solely. The higher polymer concentrations were favorable for the declination of beads number, and adriving factor for fiber diameter reduction. Further physicochemical characterization of the optimized formulationrevealed the presence of the drug in an amorphous state or molecular dispersion within the polymer matrix. In vitrodissolution studies revealed about 81.5% ± 8.34% release in less than 2 minutes compared to a negligible dissolutionof free drug. From the derived outcomes, the electrohydrodynamic spun tadalafil-loaded nanofibers pave the way fordissolution enhancement for insoluble low bioavailability class II drugs.