Development and characterization of solriamfetol-loaded PVA/PLGA electrospun nanofiber membranes: A promising approach for sustained narcolepsy treatment

Narcolepsy presents challenges in medication adherence and delivery, with traditional oral medications not always suitable for patients experiencing unexpected sleep episodes or difficulty in swallowing pills. This study focused on developing a solriamfetol (SF) loaded nanofiber membrane using a polymer blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for the management of narcoleptic patients with non-oral dosage options. The design required synthesis, optimization, characterization, and evaluation of these nanofibers for transdermal drug delivery. Using a Box-Behnken design, the nanofibers were produced via the electrospinning technique, achieving a high drug content of 96.31 ± 1.21 % and entrapment efficiency of 96.18 ± 1.42 %. The in vitro drug release studies demonstrated a prolonged release profile of SF over 24 h, with 97 % ± 2 % of the drug released. The SEM analysis revealed that the surface morphology of the nanofibers was smooth and homogenous, and the average diameter of the SF/PVA/PLGA nanofibers was found to be 150.23 ± 2.50 nm. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the amorphous structure of the nanofibers. The zebrafish embryonic toxicological study did not reveal any signs of toxicity or morphological abnormalities in the developing embryos, indicating that the nanofibers are safe. The results point to the applicability of SF nanofiber membranes in personalized narcolepsy therapy, which improves patients’ quality of life and the efficacy of their treatment. These nanofibers can be given in the form of a transdermal patch to patients for sustained drug delivery, even when they fall asleep or when they cannot take medicines orally.