Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Fall 1-31-2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor

Michael Jaffe

Second Advisor

Cheul H. Cho

Third Advisor

Treena Livingston Arinzeh

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers when nanofi bers are impregnated with drugs play a significant role in drug delivery. Nanomedical approaches to drug delivery focus on developing nanoscale particles or molecules to improve the bioavailab ility of a drug.

Biodegradable nanofibers were developed using Poly (L – lactic acid) and Soy protein for the delivery of an ayurvedic drug, Nardostachys jatamansi. A weighed quantity of powdered drug – Nardostachys Jatamansi was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using water and ethanol in equal quantities. Various blends of the drug extract and soy protein solution are prepared and mixed in Poly (L-lactic acid). Nanofibers of Soy Protein – Poly (L-lactic acid) blend along with the drug Nardostachys Jatamansi developed, were morphologically analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and also for the presence of the drug co ntent with UV spectrometry.

This research has opened a new avenue for the drug delivery of Nardostachys jatamansi using nanofibers. However, there are more opportunities to be exploited from the electrospinning of PLLA and the corresponding drug-loaded nanofibers for drug delivery.

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