Synthesis and characterization PVA electro-spun nanofibers containing encapsulated vitamin C in chitosan microspheres

Abstract

This paper reported vitamin C (VC) encapsulated chitosan (CS) microspheres cross-linked in the presence of two cross-linking agents, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and Tween 80, for controlled release of VC. Furthermore, the effect of the crosslinking agent was described. The obtained micro and nanocapsules were evaluated by loading efficiency, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and in vitro release studies. Encapsulation efficiency was calculated. FTIR and XRD revealed the dispersion and stability of VC after encapsulation in the CS matrix. Using Tween 80, as a crosslinking agent, encapsulation was completely done, which is related to the larger number of hydroxyl groups of Tween, causing the formation of extensive hydrogen bonding with CS and VC. The release of VC from these microspheres was sustained and affected by the volume of cross-linking agent added. Finally, the release of VC from STPP-chitosan and Tween-chitosan microspheres followed Fick’s law of diffusion. By loading encapsulated VC in PVA, electrospun nanofibers obtained without beading defect, also conductivity, and viscosity of PVA polymer solution were measured. SEM and EDX results indicated that inorganic particle size was of the nano-order with uniform distribution and dispersion and the release of VC from PVA nanofibers was characterized.