Development and Characterization of Nanofiber Strip Containing Sertraline for Buccal Application

Sertraline is one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors indicated in major depressive disorder. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder with frequent depressive symptoms. Sertraline is thought to be useful for the treatment of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia. The objective of this study is to formulate sertraline-containing nanofiber strips produced by the electrospinning process, which can be easily dispersed by the buccal route, suitable for the use of schizophrenia patients. Here, various ratios (%5, %7.5 and %10) of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) polymer solutions were prepared, and electrical conductivity, viscosity and surface tension characterization studies were performed on polymer solutions. After characterization studies, a polymer solution containing 5% PVP was selected to prepare nanofibers. Nanofibers were obtained by using the electrospinning method, each strip containing 5 mg sertraline. It was observed that the optimum formulation selected nanofiber had an average particle diameter of 371-439 nm in the SEM image. Tensile strength and elongation at break percentage values of 5% PVP-sertraline nanofibers values were 0.449±0.284 (Mpa) and 22.6±3.66 (%), respectively. The loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of the formulation are 4.53%±0.31 and 79.61±10.56 respectively. In vitro drug dissolution studies showed that sertraline-containing buccal nanofibers conformed to the Hixson-Crowell kinetic model.