Development of electrospun nanofibers containing chitosan/PEO blend and phenolic compounds with antibacterial activity

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 117; pp. 800 - 806
• Main Authors: Kuntzler, Suelen Goettems, Costa, Jorge Alberto Vieira, Morais, Michele Greque de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Active packaging; Electrospinning; Microalga; Electrospinning; Microalga; Active packaging
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.05.224

Electrospun nanofibers can be formed with chitosan as the polymers found in biological sources have antibacterial ability. The objective of this work was to evaluate whether chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) blend nanofibers containing microalgal phenolic compounds exhibit antibacterial activity. Nanofibers produced with a 3% chitosan/2% PEO blend containing 1% phenolic compounds had an average diameter of 214 ± 37 nm, which resulted in a high temperature of maximum degradation, an important parameter for food packaging. The potential antibacterial activity of this nanofibers was confirmed by their inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (6.4 ± 1.1 mm) and Escherichia coli ATCC 25972 (5.5 ± 0.4 mm). The polymeric nanofibers produced from chitosan and containing phenolic compounds have properties that therefore allow their application as active packaging. In addition, chitosan is an excellent polymer for packaging as it presents biodegradability, biocompatibility and, non-toxicity.
•Phenolic compounds of Spirulina sp. LEB 18 have antibacterial activity.•Chitosan and polyoxyethylene oxide formed nanofibers with a diameter of 262 ± 32 nm.•Chitosan and polyoxyethylene oxide nanofibers exhibited antibacterial activity.•Phenolic compound-incorporated nanofibers have potential applications in packaging.