Preparation of shikonin-loaded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers using electrospinning

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN; Mw similar to 80000) nanoscale fibers containing shikonin from the plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon were successfully prepared. In herbal medicine shikonin is widely known for its anti-tumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties Here we describe for the first time a electrospun system involving PAN (8% and 11%, w/v in N, N-dimethylacetamide) containing 5 wt% shikonin (based on the weight of PAN powder). Incorporation of the drug into the PAN media did not appear to influence the morphology of the resulting fibers, as the surface of the shikonin-loaded PAN fibers were uniform and smooth. In addition, high drug loading efficiency (> 91%) was successfully achieved. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated an initial rapid release followed by a slower constant. These findings demonstrate the controlled release of drugs from PAN fibers could provide new protocols for clinical use.