Evaluation of Eudragit/Polycaprolactone/2,3‐Diphenyl‐3‐Hydroxyflavone Derivative Composite Electrospun Nanofibers for Sustained Drug Delivery

ABSTRACT This study pioneers the development of Eudragit/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (EU/PCL) nanofibers as a novel carrier for the bioactive flavonoid, 2,3‐diphenyl‐3‐hydroxyflavone derivative. The compound, encapsulated at two concentrations, was evaluated in parallel with diclofenac diethylamine (DEA), a well‐known nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID). Physicochemical analyses confirmed the formation of uniform, bead‐free nanofibers with a hydrophobic surface morphology. Drug release investigations highlighted a sustained release profile, with 44.94% of the encapsulated drug released within 40 h in vitro. The release kinetics exhibited an excellent correlation with the Korsmeyer–Peppas model ( R 2 = 0.9315), suggesting a diffusion‐driven mechanism coupled with polymer erosion. Remarkably, the fabricated nanofibers demonstrated anti‐inflammatory efficacy comparable to diclofenac sodium, validated through inhibition of bovine and egg albumin denaturation assays. Biocompatibility was further established using HEK‐293 cell culture studies, which revealed a high cell viability of 89.99% ± 0.60% across tested concentrations. In addition, the system achieved 68.11% ± 0.23% inhibition of albumin denaturation with an IC 50 value of 32.5 ± 0.23 μg/mL, underscoring its potent anti‐inflammatory activity. Collectively, these findings establish EU/PCL nanofibers as a promising platform for the sustained delivery of 2,3‐diphenyl‐3‐hydroxyflavone derivative, offering significant potential as a biocompatible and effective therapeutic alternative under in vitro conditions.