Electrospinning of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanofibers as Cefixime Drug Delivery Matrices

The development of effective nanofibrous drug delivery systems has gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential to improve solubility, enable controlled release and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In the present study, we developed electrospun nanofibers based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for the encapsulation and delivery of cefixime (CFM), a poorly water-soluble third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. The nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning. The process was carried out under a high electric field (20 kV) to generate uniform, bead-free nanofiber mats suitable for pharmaceutical applications. The prepared nanofibers were systematically characterized to evaluate their structural, morphological, and physicochemical properties. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy confirmed smooth, bead-free fibres with nanoscale diameters(200 ± 40 nm). suggesting molecular-level dispersion of cefixime within the nanofibers. These findings highlight the potential of PVA/CMC nanofibers for use as advanced drug delivery matrices for cefixime, enabling enhanced stability, solubility, and therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, in vitro antibacterial assays showed enhanced bacterial inhibition compared to the pure drug, attributed to the high surface area and improved drug availability from the nanofiber mat. PVA/CMC/CFM nanofibers exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with higher efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive. Overall, this study demonstrates that electrospun PVA/CMC nanofibers are a promising platform for antibiotic drug delivery, offering improved drug entrapment, structural stability, and antibacterial performance. The developed system holds potential for advanced wound dressing and localized drug delivery applications.