Dissolvable Topical Formulations for Burst and Constant Delivery of Vitamin C.

Healthy skin has a high vitamin C concentration that protects against ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage, promotes wound healing, and lowers cancer risk. The present contribution describes two drug delivery systems for topical administration of vitamin C. The electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofiber carrier of vitamin C exhibits a burst release profile (66 mg/g/h followed by 6.3 mg/g/h). In comparison, a new composite PVA nanofiber-molecular capsule delivers vitamin C at a constant rate (8.2 mg/g/h) with a zeroth-order release profile for better therapeutic management. Both delivery systems protect vitamin C and afford increased heat stability. The molecular capsules of ß-cyclodextrin with the vitamin C inclusion complex are immobilized on cellulose acetate and electrosprayed onto an electrospun PVA nanofiber mat.

A new versatile x-y-z electrospinning equipment for nanofiber synthesis in both far and near field.

This work describes a versatile electrospinning equipment with rapid, independent, and precise x-y-z movements for large-area depositions of electrospun fibers, direct writing or assembly of fibers into sub-millimeter and micron-sized patterns, and printing of 3D micro- and nanostructures. Its versatility is demonstrated thought the preparation of multilayered functional nanofibers for wound healing, nanofiber mesh for particle filtration, high-aspect ratio printed lines, and freestanding aligned nanofibers.