Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers with Antioxidant Properties: A Review

Abstract

Antioxidants can be encapsulated to enhance their solubility or bioavailability or to protect them from external factors. Electrospinning has proven to be an excellent option for applications in nanotechnology, as electrospun nanofibers can provide the necessary environment for antioxidant encapsulation. Forty-nine papers related to antioxidants loaded onto electrospun nanofibers were categorized and reviewed to identify applications and new trends. Medical and food fields were commonly proposed for the newly obtained composites. Among the polymers used as a matrix for the electrospinning process, synthetic poly (lactic acid) and polycaprolactone were the most widely used. In addition, natural compounds and extracts were identified as antioxidants that help to inhibit free radical and oxidative damage in tissues and foods. The most recurrent active compounds used were tannic acid (polyphenol), quercetin (flavonoid), curcumin (polyphenol), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). The incorporation of active compounds in nanofibers often improves their bioavailability, giving them increased stability, changing the mechanical properties of polymers, enhancing nanofiber biocompatibility, and offering novel properties for the required field. Although most of the polymers used were synthetic, natural polymers such as silk fibroin, chitosan, cellulose, pullulan, polyhydroxybutyrate, and zein have proven to be proper matrices for this purpose.

Encapsulation of Bioactive Compounds from Aloe Vera Agrowastes in Electrospun Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Nanofibers

“…Among the different available techniques, nanoencapsulation technologies such as nanoemulsification, electrospraying, electrospinning, production of nanoliposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructures formation by cyclodextrins, etc., are very promising to entrap bioactive compounds [35]. Electrohydrodynamic processes, e.g., electrospinning and electrospraying, have gained increasing attention over the last decades [36][37][38] to obtain micron, submicron and nanometric fibres or nanoparticles, respectively, from a variety of materials, including synthetic and natural-based polymers. These techniques can be operated at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.…”

Electrospun Composite Nanofibrous Materials Based on (Poly)-Phenol-Polysaccharide Formulations for Potential Wound Treatment

“…Dressings for today’s chronic wounds come in many forms [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], and ultrafine and nanofibres have the potential to revolutionise wound care. Nanofibres are produced by various methods, but among them, electrospinning is an environmentally friendly technology that requires very simple equipment and permits the use of a variety of polymers, both synthetic and natural, resulting in different functionalities of the final fibre products [ 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. In order to promote wound healing, electrospun nanofibre mats (as described in research and projects) can be produced in various ways [ 2 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…In this context, curcumin was incorporated into the polycaprolactone (PCL) [ 28 ] as well as cellulose acetate (CA) [ 29 ] nanofibres which support the attachment and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and show a high rate of wound closure. Nanofibre mats with incorporated plant components, with emphasis on essential oils, honey [ 10 , 30 , 31 ] and herbal extracts from olive leaves [ 18 , 23 , 32 ] were developed and showed efficient antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against the most common bacteria found in infected wounds.…”

“…A large number of papers on antioxidants charged on electrospun nanofibres have been categorised and reviewed to identify applications and new trends. The active compounds used repeatedly were tannic acid (polyphenol), quercetin (flavonoid), curcumin (polyphenol) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) [ 10 ]. The incorporation of active compounds into nanofibres often improves their bioavailability and gives them increased stability, changes the mechanical properties of polymers, increases the biocompatibility of nanofibres and introduces bioactivity [ 10 ].…”

“…Although the number of research groups working on the development of new electrospun materials for tissue engineering and wound dressings is increasing rapidly, it is still an ambitious task to effectively combine different natural antimicrobial agents and antioxidants in novel electrospun nanomats [ 2 , 10 , 35 ]. The aim of this study was to achieve synergistic behaviour of chitosan and (poly)-phenols to reduce a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria while inhibiting free radicals present in wounds.…”