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

Abstract

Aloe Vera is an ancient medicinal plant especially known for its beneficial properties for human health, due to its bioactive compounds. In this study, nanofibers with antioxidant activity were successfully obtained by electrospinning technique with the addition of a natural Aloe Vera skin extract (AVE) (at 0, 5, 10 and 20 wt% loadings) in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions. The successful incorporation of AVE into PEO was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging (ABTS) and ferric reducing power (FRAP) assays. The incorporation of AVE introduced some changes in the PEO/AVE nanofibers morphology showing bimodal diameter distributions for AVE contents in the range 10-20 wt%. Some decrease in thermal stability with AVE addition, in terms of decomposition onset temperature, was also observed and it was more evident at high loading AVE contents (10 and 20 wt%). High encapsulation efficiencies of 92%, 76% and 105% according to DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively, were obtained at 5 wt% AVE content, retaining AVE its antioxidant capacity in the PEO/AVE electrospun nanofibers. The results suggested that the obtained nanofibers could be promising materials for their application in active food packaging to decrease oxidation of packaged food during storage.

Electrospun ultrafine fibers for advanced face masks

“… The anti-bacterial effect of Aloe vera acetate-Polyvinylpyrrolidone (AvAc/PVP) electrospun fibers. [ 96 , 97 ] The prepared electrospun nanostructures showed great biocompatibility, biodegradability, anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity. √Blend electrospinning; √The average diameters of the composite fibers increase with the increase of the percentage of Aloe vera, but the fiber became finer with the increase of Aloe vera acetate.…”

Encapsulation of Flavours and Fragrances into Polymeric Capsules and Cyclodextrins Inclusion Complexes: An Update

“…Indeed, these techniques use different concentrations of the polymeric dispersion that give rise to nanofibers by electrospinning with high concentrations of the polymer or fine droplets/particles when a low polymer concentration is used in the electro-spraying [ 54 ]. Since these methodologies do not require heating treatments, they are very promising for the encapsulation of heat-sensitive compounds such as flavours, fragrances and EOs [ 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Different polymers have been evaluated for the formation of nanofibers encapsulating volatile compounds, such as cellulose derivatives [ 58 ], biodegradable polyesters [ 59 ], dendrimers [ 60 ] or polysaccharides such as seed gums and mucilages [ 61 , 62 ].…”

Polymer-Based Scaffolds Loaded with Aloe vera Extract for the Treatment of Wounds

“…The synthetic polymers that can be utilized in wound dressings are poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactide (PLA), poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCL), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), etc. [ 12 ]. The poor biological activities of polymer-based wound dressing materials can be overcome by incorporating bioactive agents in these materials.…”