Development of PVA-PNVCL-Fe3O4 composite nanofibrous for drug delivery in cancer treatment

This study investigates the fabrication and morphological tuning of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibres incorporating thermo-responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles for potential drug delivery applications. Electrospinning parameters-polymer concentration, flow rate, applied voltage, and tip-to-collector distance-were first optimized using pure PVA to achieve bead-free fibres. Nine composite formulations were then prepared by varying the ratios of PVA, PNVCL, and Fe3O4. Macroscopic appearance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fibre diameter analysis were used to evaluate the effects of additive loading. Results showed that both PVNCL and Fe3O4 independently increased fibre diameter and surface roughness, while dual incorporation produced the most pronounced morphological changes, with fibre diameters reaching up to 246+-33 nm. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of tailoring fibre structure via compositional control, providing a basis for multifunctional nanofibre-based drug delivery systems responsive to thermal and magnetic stimuli.