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The purpose of the present research was to fabricate ethylcellulose (ECL)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin (GEL) electrospun nanofibers containing Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZEO) and zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO) to provide an appropriate substrate for food packaging. The ECL/PCL/GEL was incorporated with ZEO and ZnO at the concentrations of 10, 20, 30 and 50 wt% and 3 wt%, respectively. The results of ECL/PCL/GEL/ZEO/ZnO nanofiber exhibited uniform morphology with a mean diameter ranging from 361.85 ± 18.7 to 467.33 ± 14.50 nm and enhanced thermal stability. The ECL/PCL/GEL/ZEO/ZnO nanofiber had the highest mechanical parameters, such as young's modulus (437.49 ± 18), tensile strength (7.88 ± 0.7), and elongation at break (5.02 ± 0.6) and water contact angle (61.13 ± 0.5), compared with the other nanofibers. The cell viability during 48 and 72 h was obtained to be about more than 80% for all the nanofibers. Additionally, the ECL/PCL/GEL incorporated with 50% ZEO and 3% ZnO displayed the highest antioxidant activity (34.61 ± 1.98%) and antifungal properties against Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus niger. In general, the ECL/PCL/GEL with the weight ratio of 20:70:10 nanofiber incorporated with 30% ZEO and 3% ZnO was obtained to have appropriate mechanical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and thermal stability. more...

In this study, zein/polylactic acid (PLA)/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated to the incorporation of Zenian (Carum copticum) essential oil (ZO) using the electrospinning method for employing in food packaging for the first time. The SEM images of optimal zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs displayed homogeneous morphology. The average diameter of NFs ranged between 718 ± 186 nm and 335 ± 112 nm. Antioxidant activity of ZO-loaded NFs was 68.83 ± 0.1%. The zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs showed inhibiting activity versus S. aureus (15 mm) and E. coli (8 mm) bacteria. Moreover, ZO-incorporated NFs showed better thermal stability than zein/PLA/HPMC nanofibers without ZO. After loading of ZO, zein/PLA/HPMC NFs exhibited higher tensile strength than those of native nanofiber, and MTT test showed no cell toxicity which indicated good biocompatibility. Overall, the zein/PLA/HPMC/ZO NFs endorsed have good properties for application in food packaging. more...

Recently, combination of nanotechnology and active food packaging provided new horizon to extend the shelf life of food. This study aimed to fabricate natural nanofibrous film incorporated with essential oils using the nanospinning technique and examine its antimicrobial activity. Constituents of Zataria multiflora and Cinnamon zeylanicum essential oils (EOs) were investigated by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and their antimicrobial properties were examined. Subsequently, electrospun Soy Protein Isolate (SPI)/Gelatin was embedded with Zataria multiflora and Cinnamon zeylanicum EOs. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were done to evaluate the properties of electrospun fibers. The antimicrobial activity of nanofibrous films was evaluated. SEM revealed that the addition of 30% gelatin neutralized SPI charge, representing a significant increase in the diameter of nanofibers by 314.08 nm. Furthermore, TGA showed stability for Soy/Gel nanofibers. The fabricated nanofibrous film exhibited exquisite antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. For example, SPI-gelatin nanofibrous film incorporated with 20% Z. multiflora reduced 100% of S. aureus, B. cereus, and L.monocytogenes. The reduction for E. coli and S. typhimurium were 70% and 63%, respectively. We suggest that incorporating EOs with nanofibrous films can be a promising method to extend the shelf life of food and can be used in production for active food packaging. more...

One significant aspect of the current therapeutic agents employed in wound healing involves the engineering of nano polymeric scaffolds to mimic the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM). The present work aimed to prepare and evaluate Eudragit® L100 (EU) nanofibers in combination with soy protein isolate (SPI). Allantoin (Ala) with a 2 wt% was encapsulated as a model drug renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Moreover, the synthesized ZnO-halloysite nanotubes (ZHNTs) with different concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt% were incorporated into the EU/SPI/Ala nanofiber as a reinforcing filler and a remarkable antibacterial agent. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that by increasing the weight percentage of SPI from 1 % to 2.5 %, the average diameter of nanofibers decreased from 132.3 ± 51.3 nm to 126.7 ± 47.2 nm. It was 223.5 ± 95.6 nm for nanofibers containing 5 wt% ZHNTs (the optimal sample). The evaluation of in vitro release kinetics of Ala for 24 h, showed a burst release during the first 2 h and a sustained release during the subsequent times. Moreover, the structure, crystallinity, and thermal stability of synthesized nanofibers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. In vitro degradation and mechanical characteristics of these nanofibers were studied. Furthermore, the capability of the nanofibers for cell proliferation was revealed through the MTT test and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images of cell attachment. The antimicrobial activity of EU/SPI/Ala/ZHNTs showed that this sample with high ZHNTs content (5 w%t) had the most remarkable antibacterial activity against S. aureus. The results revealed that EU/SPI/Ala/ZHNTs mats could be promising potential wound dressings. more...

A set of poly (ε-caprolactone)/soy protein isolate (PCL/SPI) mats with different ratios of PCL to SPI was fabricated using the electrospinning method. The mat with PCL to SPI ratio of 95:5 (PS 95:5) had the narrowest nanofibers, the highest percentage of porosity, the lowest swelling ratio, the least vapor transmission, and the slowest degradation rate among the prepared mats. The hemolysis assay indicated that all mats can be considered biocompatible biomaterials. In continue, three different weight ratios of tea tree oil (TTO) were loaded into the PS 95:5 mat. The release profiles illustrated that higher amounts of TTO could be released in an acidic environment. The antioxidant activity of the mats increased by the increase in their TTO content. The cell viability test, cell adhesion images, and live/dead assay of TTO-loaded mats affirmed that all fabricated mats were biocompatible. The scratch wound assay expressed that TTO accelerates the rate of wound closure. The TTO-loaded mats illustrated antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The obtained outcomes revealed that TTO-loaded PCL/SPI mats can be considered promising potential wound dressings. more...

α-Amylase encapsulated in water in oil (W/O) emulsion was prepared using poly ethylene glycol (PEG 10000) (2%w/v) as water phase and ethylcellulose (EC) in ethyl acetate as oil phase at the ratio of 10:90 v/v. Next, the electrospun fibers were prepared by mixing enzyme loaded emulsion with EC solution (20%w/v) in acetic acid/ethyl acetate (20:80 v/v) at the 2:1 ratio. The emulsion showed good physical stability. The immobilized enzyme showed high activity across a board range of pHs and temperatures. The storage stability of the immobilized enzyme was 2 fold of free enzyme activity after 45 days. The residual activity of immobilized α–amylase onto of fibers after 10 and 15 repeated cycles, was approximately 100% and 50%, respectively. The results of this study indicated that the α–amylase loaded EC fibers have acceptable activity against harsh conditions and excellent reusability. more...

The present work was aimed to produce a novel bioactive nanofiber (NFs) based on Ethyl cellulose (EC), Soy protein isolated (SPI), and containing Bitter orange peel extract (BOPE) by electrospinning technology. The EC/SPI NFs were formulated with different weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2 denoted as ES11, ES21, and ES12, respectively, and investigated by several analyses. Based on the obtained results, the maximum hydrogen interactions between these two polymers, ES11 NFs offered a uniform morphology without bead with the diameter of 185.33 nm as a result of the compatibility of the polymer solutions of EC and SPI. Moreover, appropriate thermal stability was presented along with more porosity (78%), maximum water vapor transmission rate (657 g/m2.24h), good tensile stress (6.12 MPa), and acceptable water contact angel (82.3°). Therefore, ES11 NFs were selected as the optimal sample for incorporation of the BOPE as the antibacterial and antioxidant agent. According to the antioxidant activity test, the highest concentration (20% wt) of this extract increased the antioxidant activity of NF around 64.7% and also inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria (S. areus, and E. coli). Therefore, the ES11 electrospun NFs containing 20% BOPE can be a beneficial system to increase the safety and quality of foods. more...

Wound dressings are the main barrier between the wound area and the out environment. Here we design a novel electrospun nanofibers (NFs) based on polyurethane/polyacrylic acid/poloxamer (PU/PAA/POLO) as a biocompatible wound dressing. PU/PAA NFs with different weight concentration of POLO (5, 10, and 15%) were produced by electrospinning and the chemical structure, thermal stability, surface morphology, porosity, cytocompatibility, swelling and degradation ability, hydrophibicity and mechanical properties were investigated. Based on the obtained results, the PU/PAA/POLO fibers showed a uniform and beads-free morphology with acceptable mechanical characteristics. By increasing the weight concentration of POLO added to the NF structure, an increase in the diameter of NFs (486.47 ± 251.838 nm), swelling ratio (about 3%), wettability (51.59°), and degradation degree (76%) were observed. Moreover, with increasing the diameter of NFs, the porosity (65.28 ± 0.9%), and WVTR (270.89 ± 3.01 g/m2.24 h) of NFs were significantly (P more...

In this study, the water-insoluble cumin seed oil (CSO) loaded gliadin (GN)-nanofibers (NFs) mat was prepared in the presence of ethyl cellulose (EC) and adipic acid (AD) using electrospinning method. The NFs were prepared with mixing 30 % w/v of GN and 15 %w/v of EC at the ratio of 80:20 v/v and 5%w/v of AD were selected as optimum formulation based on electrospinning efficiency and SEM images. In the presence of EC, the spinnability of GN fibers improved. Moreover, in the presence of AD the fibers diameters decreased to 50 % (250 ± 14 nm), and uniformity enhanced in all formulations. AD acted as hydrogen bond cross-linker between mixed biopolymers that led to increase in the viscosity of the polymer solutions. The selected formulation was loaded with the CSO based on 10 %w/v of polymers. Thermal stability of the GN fibers was improved in the presence of EC and AD based on DSC results. The FTIR results confirmed the hydrogen bond crosslinking between polymers and AD. Based on antioxidant activities results, the prepared NFs successfully retarded the release of CSO. CSO loaded NFs showed the strong antibacterial and antifungal activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus flavus. NFs had no significant toxicity on the viability of normal human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). The results of the current study indicated that the prepared NFs mat may have a great potential for using in active food packaging due to its sustained control release properties for loaded antimicrobial and antioxidant active agent. more...

Recently, using antibiotic-free nanofibrous mats in wound healing has significant attention for infection cure after tissue injuries as a result of no drug resistance. Honey is a natural wound-healing agent that has been reintroduced to clinical wound treatment because of its good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In this work, honey in various blending ratios was incorporated into the ethylcellulose (EC)/gum tragacanth (GT) electrospun nanofibrous (EGH NF) mat to develop an effective wound covering biomaterial. The physicochemical and biological characteristics of fabricated EGH NFs were evaluated by several methods. The effect of honey and the honey concentration enhancement (from 5 wt% to 20 wt%) was studied on the various properties of the NFs. The obtained results presented suitable antibacterial properties, enhanced antioxidant activity, improved degradation ability, increased mechanical features, proper cell growth, attachment, and proliferation against NIH-3 T3 fibroblast cells. The cytotoxicity assay showed the biocompatibility and non-cytotoxicity of the developed NF mats. Therefore, these achieved results suggested that the developed EGH NFs can be a promising candidate for wound dressing applications. more...

Resveratrol loaded chitosan:gellan (CS:Gel) nanofibers (NFs) were prepared for the first time using electrospinning technique. The NFs were prepared with CS (9% w/v) in trifloroacetic acid and Gel (2.5% w/v) at a concentration ratio of 95:5% w/v. Based on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, the diameters of CS-Gel fibers at a ratio of 95:5 and 90:10% w/v were 166 ± 37 and 291 ± 41 nm, respectively. Resveratrol (0.05% w/v) was loaded in NFs of CS-Gel at a ratio of 95:5. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) of resveratrol in NFs of CS-Gel were 86 ± 6%. The amount of resveratrol delivered in intestine region was in the range of 43–51% of the total encapsulated resveratrol (equivalent to ~840 μM). Antioxidant activities of resveratrol loaded NFs were significantly higher than that of free resveratrol. Furthermore, the resveratrol releasing ability of the NFs was proved through the MTT assay and revealed that the resveratrol NFs have almost the same cytotoxicity against HT29 cancer cells compared to free resveratrol. Based on the obtained results, the prepared NFs hold great potential as drug delivery carriers for resveratrol delivery. more...