Engineering PVA-Based Nanofibrous Mats Containing Pramipexole with Anti-Parkinsonian Effects: Fabrication, Characterization, and Pharmacological Study

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that requires long-term pharmacotherapy; however, conventional oral administration of pramipexole is associated with fluctuating plasma levels and systemic side effects. In this study, a novel electrospun PVA-based nanofibrous transdermal patch containing pramipexole was developed to enable controlled drug delivery and improved therapeutic efficacy. Pramipexole-loaded PVA and PVA/PVP nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and subsequently cross-linked using glutaraldehyde vapor. The nanofibrous mats were characterized in terms of morphology, wettability, rheological behavior, drug release kinetics, and in vivo neuroprotective performance. Smooth and bead-free nanofibers were obtained, confirming suitable solution viscosity and electrospinnability. Water contact angle measurements demonstrated hydrophilic behavior, with contact angles of 33° for PVA, 71° for PVA/PVP, and 43° for cross-linked PVA/PVP/pramipexole nanofibers, indicating tunable surface wettability. In vitro release studies revealed an initial burst release of approximately 43% and 32% of pramipexole within 30 min for PVA and PVA/PVP nanofibers, respectively, followed by sustained release reaching ~52% and ~49% after 24 h. In contrast, cross-linked nanofibers exhibited significantly slower and more controlled drug release due to reduced polymer network permeability. Histopathological analysis of the substantia nigra region in a paraquat-induced Parkinson’s disease model demonstrated a marked reduction in neuronal degeneration in both systemic and transdermal pramipexole-treated groups compared to untreated animals.