Due
to the current challenges faced by the increasing rate of drug-resistant
bacteria, attention is gradually shifting from synthetic antimicrobial
chemical compounds to natural products that are ecofriendly with a
wide spectrum of properties. The aim of this research was to successfully
fabricate electrospun nanofibers from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), PVA
blended with
Bidens pilosa
and chitosan
composite blends and investigate their potential antibacterial activities
against
Escherichia coli
and
Staphylococcus aureus
. Fabrication of nanofibers
was performed by the electrospinning technique, which applies high
voltage on the polymer, forcing it to spin off as a jet onto a plate
collector. Characterization of the nanofibers was successfully performed
by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Antibacterial assessment was carried out by colony forming unit enumeration.
The results obtained revealed a 12% increase in growth inhibition
of bacteria in composite nanofibers as compared with their parental
forms, which were >91 and 79%, respectively. Chitosan nanofibers
have
been extensively researched, and their antibacterial properties have
been studied. However
B. pilosa
antibacterial
properties in a nanofiber form have not been previously reported.
These composite nanofibers open new avenues toward using natural materials
as potent antibacterial agents.
Chemistry and applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based on s-block metal ions have been comprehensively reviewed. This work underlines the importance of diversifying the structures of s-block MOFs for various applications.
Inspired by the rampant digestive disorders and the vast bacterial infections, this study aimed at fabricating nanofibers made of inulin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite nanofibers (CNFs) using the electrospinning technique and testing their prebiotic and antibacterial activities. The inulin/PVA CNFs were tested for prebiotic activity with Lactobacillus species while Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were used to assess the antibacterial potentiality. During the fabrication of the CNFs, different electrospinning parameters have been carefully controlled, in order to produce nanofibers with relatively uniform diameter, fewer beads, and high integrity. The different parameters included variable solution concentration (material ratio varied from 14 to 20 wt %), applied voltage (varied from 15 to 25 kV), and solution flow (ranged between 0.005 and 0.5 mL/min). The chemical characteristics, thermal stability, and morphology of the formed CNFs were comprehensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Selected CNFs, showing the best diameter uniformity and integrity, were tested for the prebiotic and antimicrobial activity. A 38% increase in prebiotic activity of CNFs, compared to their bulk solution, was observed. The antibacterial activity of the selected CNFs was enhanced, from ∼40% (pure inulin) to 70% (inulin/PVA CNFs) against E. coli and 45% against S. aureus. This study investigates the prebiotic and antibacterial activities of PVA/inulin CNFs and provides the foundation for inulin/PVA CNF use in the healthcare sector, as in disinfectants and/or digestive disorders.
Immobilization of biological molecules and cells on nanofibers is widely used in many applications ranging from medical to environmental applications. Immobilization materials provide cells with protection and surface for adhesion which in turn increases their efficiency for a particular application and stability over a longer period. Bioremediation of oil spills has recently become popular since scientists have developed processes that rely on cost-effectiveness and efficacy in crude oil treatments. For improved and sustainable performance of bioremediation, the system requires the development of cost-effective carrier substrates which undergo slow biodegradability and present a limited negative impact on the environment. Immobilization of bacteria on electrospun polymeric fibers is a recent research development aided by advances in nanotechnology. This could revolutionize bioremediation, treating the problem of crude oil spill pollution. In this review, we discuss the use of electrospinning to manufacture nanofibers entrapping and encapsulating bacterial cells for effective crude oil spill bioremediation. We go further to explain the recent developments in nanofiber technology with special emphasis on the correlation between method of electrospinning and relevant morphology of the formed fibers.
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