Evaluation of Modified Guar Gum as Polymer for Electrospun Nanofibrous Film

Abstract

This study aimed to fabricate metoclopramide-loaded nanofibers based on esterified guar gum using electrospinning. Guar gum was chemically modified through esterification, with structural changes confirmed via 1H NMR and FT-IR analyses. Rheological and swelling studies demonstrated that this modification reduced viscosity and swelling capacity, enhancing the polymer's suitability for electrospinning. Polyvinyl alcohol was incorporated as a co-polymer with the modified guar gum to improve fiber morphology and uniformity. The resulting metoclopramide-loaded nanofibrous film exhibited an average fiber diameter of 77.43 nm. Physical and mechanical evaluations showed an increase in fiber density in the drug-loaded samples, attributed to interactions between metoclopramide and the polymer matrix, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in porosity. FT-IR analysis confirmed successful drug incorporation, while thermal stability was comparable between drug-loaded and unloaded nanofibers. Comparative in vitro release studies revealed rapid metoclopramide release from the electrospun nanofibrous film within 5 min, whereas the solvent-cast film achieved 80% drug release in 30 min. These findings highlight the potential of chemically modified guar gum-based nanofibers for fast and efficient drug delivery, indicating their broader applicability in pharmaceutical and nanomaterial-based technologies.