Preparation and characterization of ibuprofen-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/poly(ethylene glycol)-g-chitosan electrospun membranes

Ibuprofen-loaded composite membranes composed of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol)-g-chitosan (PEG-g-CHN) were prepared by electrospinning. The electrospun membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical evaluation and contact angle measurements. Shrinkage behavior of the membrane in buffer at 37°C was also evaluated. It was found that PLGA glass transition temperature (T_g) decreased with increasing PEG-g-CHN content in the composite membranes, which results in a decrease in tensile stress at break but an increase in tensile strain of the membranes. The degree of shrinkage of these composite membranes decreased from 76 to only 3% when the PEG-g-CHN content in the membranes increased from 10 to 30%. The presence of PEG-g-CHN significantly moderated the burst release rate of ibuprofen from the electrospun PLGA membranes. Moreover, ibuprofen could be conjugated to the side chains of PEG-g-CHN to prolong its release for more than two weeks. The sustained release capacity of the PLGA/PEG-g-CHN composite membranes, together with their compliant and stable mechanical properties, renders them ideal matrices for atrial fibrillation.