Incorporation of Rutin in Electrospun Pullulan/PVA Nanofibers for Novel UV-Resistant Properties.

Yongfang Qian,Fang Ye,Lihua Lv,Laijiu Zheng,Martin King,Mengjie Qi

doi:10.3390/ma9070504

Yongfang Qian, Fang Ye + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9070504

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the incorporation of rutin into electrospun pullulan and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers to obtain ultraviolet (UV)-resistant properties. The effect of weight ratios between pullulan and PVA, and the addition of rutin on the nanofibers’ morphology and diameters were studied and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was utilized to investigate the interaction between pullulan and PVA, as well as with rutin. The results showed that the inclusion of PVA results in the increase in the fiber’s diameter. The addition of rutin had no obvious effect on the fibers’ average diameters when the content of rutin was less than 7.41%. FTIR results indicated that a hydrogen bond formed between pullulan and PVA, also between these polymers and rutin. Moreover, the addition of rutin could enhance the mechanical properties due to its stiff structure and could decrease the transmittance of UVA and UVB to be fewer than 5%; meanwhile, the value of ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) reached more than 40 and 50 when the content of rutin was 4.46% and 5.67%, respectively. Therefore, the electrospun pullulan/PVA/rutin nanofibrous mats showed excellent UV resistance and have potential applications in anti-ultraviolet packaging and dressing materials.

Highlights

Electrospinning is a simple and effective method to fabricate nonwoven mats with large surface areas and porosities [1,2]
When the addition of rutin was greater than 3.23%, the transmittances of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) of electrospun pullulan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/rutin nanofibrous mats were lower than 5%
Pullulan/PVA nanofibrous mats with and without rutin were fabricated via the electrospinning technique

Summary

Introduction

Electrospinning is a simple and effective method to fabricate nonwoven mats with large surface areas and porosities [1,2]. In this method, high voltage is applied on the drop to the tip of the needle as the draft force on the polymer solution or melt. When the applied electrical force overcomes the critical surface tension of the polymer liquid, the liquid is ejected from the nozzle, stretched, and deposited on the grounded collector in the form of nonwoven mats with fibers ranging from tens of microns to nanometers in diameter [3]. Pullulan is an extracellular microbial polysaccharide produced by the yeast-like fungus. Aureobasidium pullulans [5,6]. The basic chemical structure is a linear maltotriose unit connected by α-1,6 linkages, while the internal glucose unit within maltotriose is a α-1,4 glycosidic linkage

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion