Abstract: Corneal transplantation is an important surgical intervention for restoring vision in patients with severe corneal diseases. However, postoperative complications, particularly immune-mediated graft rejection and microbial infections, remain significant challenges that may compromise graft survival. Cyclosporine A (CsA), an immunomodulatory agent, has been investigated for its potential to reduce immune-mediated graft rejection, whereas posaconazole (POS), a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, may offer an alternative approach for the management of ocular fungal infections. Based on these considerations, the present study aims to develop and characterize dual drug loaded nanofibrous formulations containing CsA and POS for potential topical ocular administration following corneal transplantation. Chitosan and Eudragit® RS 100 were investigated separately as polymeric carriers to evaluate their influence on nanofiber formation, physicochemical properties, drug loading, and release characteristics. The formulations were prepared using the electrospinning technique and characterized in terms of fiber morphology, diameter distribution, thermal properties, drug–polymer interactions, and in vitro drug release profiles. Furthermore, cytotoxicity and antifungal activity studies were conducted to investigate the biological performance of the developed formulations. This study is expected to provide preliminary insights into the feasibility of a dual drug delivery platform designed to combine immunomodulatory and antifungal activities, with potential applications in postoperative ocular drug delivery.
Keywords: Cyclosporine A, posaconazole, polymeric nanofiber, ocular drug delivery
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank to Anadolu University-BİBAM for SEM and 1H-NMR analyses, to Anadolu University-MERLAB for FT-IR analyses.

Biography: Prof. Dr. Ebru Başaran is a Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Türkiye. She received her Ph.D. (2007) in Pharmaceutical Technology from Anadolu University. Her research focuses on the design, development, optimization, and characterization of innovative drug delivery systems, particularly polymeric nanoparticles, nanofibers, microneedles, and advanced ocular drug delivery platforms. She has contributed to numerous scientific research projects and published research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. Her academic achievements have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including a DAAD Scholarship (2002), the Best Research Award from the NAGAI Foundation (2008) and the Best Poster Award at Polymer Connect 2021. She also served as a guest researcher at Berlin Free Univeristy (2002), Goethe University Frankfurt (2020-2021) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP, 2020–2022) in Germany. Her current research focuses on developing innovative pharmaceutical formulations to improve drug delivery, enhance therapeutic performance, and address challenges associated with conventional dosage forms.