Antibacterial electrospun nanofibers from poly (vinyl alcohol) and <i>Mikania micrantha</i> with augmented moisture properties: formation and evaluation

Abstract

The present study depicts the formation and characterization of electrospun nanofibrous mat generated from the mixture of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Mikania Micrantha extract to incorporate the inherent medicinal properties of this natural herb for biomedical application. The nano mats were produced by the solution electrospinning technique with different mixing ratio under the optimum electrospinning conditions. The morphological structure, bonding behavior and moisture management properties of the developed mats were investigated by SEM, FTIR and moisture management test (AATCC 195-2009) respectively. The SEM analysis showed the homogenous and smooth fiber formation with average diameter of 75.85 ± 21.70 nm and the presence of compounds of PVA and Mikania Micrantha extracts were confirmed in by FTIR characteristic peaks at particular wave number. Results of moisture management test revealed that the developed nanomat exhibited better moisture management properties as the ratio of leaf extract is increased in comparison with PVA nanofiber alone. Aside from this, the bacterial resistance was evaluated against Gram-positive (S.aureus- ATCC 6538) bacteria using disc diffusion method for the sample developed at maximum mixing ratio of Mikania Micrantha extract (80%) which shows the formation of inhibition zone up to 12 mm due to the antibacterial constituents of Mikania Micrantha extract. Thus, the developed mats have a great potential to be used as biodegradable, biobased and antibacterial one in biomedical applications.