Antioxidant activity and photostability of α-tocopherol/β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex encapsulated electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers

Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (CD-ICs) can be encapsulated into electrospun nanofibers in order to achieve delivery systems having high surface area and highly porous nanofibrous structures. In this study, a well-known antioxidant molecule, alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TC) (vitamin E) was chosen as an active agent for inclusion complexation with beta-cyclodextrin. Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers encapsulating alpha-tocopherol/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC) which has high antioxidant activity and photostability was produced via electrospinning (PCL/alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC-NF). The formation of alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC was confirmed by XRD. Phase solubility studies showed A(n)-type complex formation between alpha-TC and beta-CD. SEM revealed that bead-free nanofibers were successfully produced from PCL/alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC system. PCL nanofibers encapsulating alpha-TC without CD-IC was also produced for comparison (PCL/alpha-TC-NF). Antioxidant test results showed that PCL/alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC-NF had higher antioxidant activity as compared to PCL/alpha-TC-NF in methanol:water (1:1) system due to the stabilization and solubility increment of alpha-TC in the cavity of beta-CD PCL/alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC-NF was more stable against UV-light when compared to PCL/alpha-TC-NF due to the presence of inclusion complexation. In brief, PCL/alpha-TC/beta-CD-IC-NF with the advantages of having nanofibrous structure and encapsulating CD-ICs, may serve as a novel route for administration of alpha-TC due to its higher antioxidant activity and better UV-light stability. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.