Electrospun Momordica charantia incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers for antibacterial applications

Abstract

Momordica charantia MC (bitter gourd) is a natural remedy for diabetic patients. Keeping in view valuable and fruitful properties of MC, authors have loaded bitter gourd extract in combination with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on electrospinning and characterized for possible testing. Antibacterial properties of PVA/MC nanofibers were examined by disk diffusion method and it was observed that PVA/MC nanofibers have potential antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria stains. Morphological properties of PVA/MS nanofibers were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and it was observed that addition of MC extract caused beads formation during electrospinning of PVA/MC solution. Addition of 50 % MC in PVA solution produced few nanofibers while surface was fully covered by courser beads. However authors suggest that 40 % (w/w) MC extract will be optimum ratio considering the results of different characterizations. Possibility of chemical reactivity between active functionalities of PVA and MC was also observed by FTIR-ATR spectra, but there was no significant peak change observed. Cytotoxicity of prepared composite nanofibers was also examined by WST-1 absorption. Crystallinity and mechanical properties were also studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Universal Testing Machine (UTM). It is expected that prepared composite nanofibers have potential applications as sustainable antibacterial wound dressings for smooth and speedy recovery of open wounds.