Abstract
A simple and cost-effective material composed of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing different concentrations of moringa (MR) leaf extracts was fabricated for antimicrobial properties and wound dressing. The fabricated materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial sensitivity of the developed polyacrylonitrile-moringa extract nanofibers was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by the agar diffusion method. A pronounced antibacterial activity was observed with the increase in the incorporated moringa leaf extract concentration within the polyacrylonitrile-moringa extract nanofibers against the bacterial strains. The best antibacterial sensitivity was observed for nanofibers containing 0.5 g of moringa leaf extract which had an inhibitory zone of 15 mm for E. coli and 12 mm for S. aureus. Furthermore, the cost-effective and biodegradable nanofibrous polyacrylonitrile–moringa extract nanofiber was also used to conduct further studies regarding wound dressing. The result reveals that the increase in the concentrations of moringa leaf extract influenced the healing properties of the material. For days 1, 4, and 7 of the wound dressing experiment, the % wound closure of the rat was the highest for the nanofiber containing 0.5 g of moringa leaf extract (35, 87, and 95%, respectively) compared to the positive control medical gauze (29, 75, and 93%, respectively).
Highlights
Polymer nanofibers have been reported to have wide applications in the field of nanotechnology.[1,2] Nanofibers can be produced by using a simple, versatile, and widely applied method known as electrospinning.[3]
Different concentrations of moringa extracts were incorporated into polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats using the electrospinning process
The fiber mats provided suitable, simple, and cost-effective materials that were used in wound healing and antibacterial experiments
Summary
Polymer nanofibers have been reported to have wide applications in the field of nanotechnology.[1,2] Nanofibers can be produced by using a simple, versatile, and widely applied method known as electrospinning.[3] The morphology of the nanofibers produced can be influenced by parameters such as applied voltage, viscosity of solution flow rate, and distance of the collector from the syringe.[4−7] Nanofibers obtained via this method from different polymers have proven to have potential applications in medicine[8] and environmental applications[9] such as electrochemical sensors for organochlorine pesticides,[10] drug delivery, and food processing.[11] Green synthesis and fabrication of nanofibers with extracts from plants have been explored.[12−14] Recently, electrospun nanofibers have been used as materials for wound dressing because of high oxygen porosity of the materials and the possession of different pore sizes, high surface/volume ratio, and similar texture to the natural extracellular matrix in the skin, which promotes the wound healing process.[15−17] Polymer nanofibers can be used either with or without any additives or in combination with bioactive plant extracts.[18,19] Some of these polymers have properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. The antibacterial potentials of moringa leaf extract-functionalized nanofibers against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria strains were investigated using Agar diffusion methods
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