Liquid Oil Trapped inside PVA Electrospun Microcapsules

Abstract

Electrospinning makes it possible to obtain solid fibers, in addition to core-shell fibers, using coextrusion. However, an exhaustive control of parameters allows the core-shell fibers from emulsion electrospinning to be obtained. The solvent in the outer surface tends to evaporate and the polymer density increases, moving the emulsion drops towards the center, which in turn promotes coalescence, thus creating the core. The aim of this work was to avoid coalescence and obtain a net of nanofibers entrapping oil microcapsules. We obtained an emulsion oil in water (O/W), with polyvinyl alcohol (W) and two essential oils (O), sage and thyme. An electrospinning process was used to place the microcapsules of oil inside a net of nanofibers. The electrospun veil was characterized by organoleptic testing, SEM microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, DSC thermal analysis, and pressure tests. Organoleptic testing, FTIR spectroscopy, and DSC thermal analysis demonstrated the presence of the oil, which was retained in the spheres observed by SEM microscopy, while pressure tests revealed that the oil remained in a liquid state. Furthermore, we demonstrated a strong relationship between the emulsion size and the final microcapsules created, which are slightly larger due to the shell formation. The size of the emulsion determines whether the spheres will be independent or embedded in the nanofibers. Furthermore, the nanofiber diameter was considerably reduced compared to the nanofibers without the oil.

Electrospun Cactus Mucilage/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers as a Novel Wall Material for Dill Seed Essential Oil (Anethum graveolens L.) Encapsulation: Release and Antibacterial Activities

“…This proves that the oil is enclosed in the CM-blend PVA nanofiber structure. These findings are in agreement with the other studies in the literature. ,,,, …”

“…The emulsification step involves a complex interaction between the oil and the CM/PVA aqueous phase and produces, with Tween 80, a stable emulsion. The CM/PVA/DSEO emulsion is more stable than the PVA/thyme essential oil emulsion prepared for emulsion electrospinning …”

“…The CM/ PVA/DSEO emulsion is more stable than the PVA/thyme essential oil emulsion prepared for emulsion electrospinning. 15 3.2. Fiber Morphology and Topography.…”

“…These findings are in agreement with the other studies in the literature. 15,20,46,49,57 3.4. Thermal Properties.…”

“…In the electrospinning process, selecting a suitable encapsulation material is important and widely studied depending on the nature of its use in food, biomedicine, and other applications. In this way, as suitable materials for emulsion electrospinning, materials from renewable and alternative resources are used, such as biopolymers like proteins and polysaccharides, including mucilage, cellulose and derives, starch, chitosan, and so forth, and biocompatible polymers, essentially poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly­(ethylene oxide), and polycaprolactone (PCL). − PVA is a nonionic hydrolysis derivative of polyvinyl acetate. It is a highly hydrophilic semicrystalline polymer with excellent mechanical properties .…”