Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
08:28
Vapor Phase Deposition of Electroactive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) onto Electrospun Commodity Polymer Nanofibers
Published on: March 7, 2025
Electrospun polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers containing cyclodextrin inclusion complex.
Tamer Uyar1, Jale Hacaloglu, Flemming Besenbacher
1Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Electrospun nanofibers now stabilize volatile menthol using cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (CD-menthol-IC). This method enhances fragrance and flavor molecule durability and temperature stability in PEO nanofibrous webs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Fragrance and flavor molecules are often volatile and unstable at high temperatures.
- Electrospun nanofibers offer a potential matrix for stabilizing such molecules.
- Cyclodextrin inclusion complexation is a known method for encapsulating and stabilizing guest molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop stable electrospun nanofibers containing fragrance/flavor molecules using cyclodextrin inclusion complexation.
- To investigate the effect of solvent systems and cyclodextrin types on menthol stabilization.
- To evaluate the temperature stability and durability of menthol in PEO nanofibers.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers incorporating cyclodextrin-menthol inclusion complexes (CD-menthol-IC).
- Utilizing different solvent systems (water and water:ethanol) and cyclodextrin types (alpha-CD, beta-CD, gamma-CD).
- Assessing the stability and temperature release profile of menthol within the nanofibrous web.
Main Results:
- Water as a solvent system and beta-CD/gamma-CD were found to be optimal for forming stable CD-menthol-IC.
- PEO nanofibers containing CD-menthol-IC exhibited sustained menthol release over a broad temperature range (100-250°C).
- Nanofibers without cyclodextrin or inclusion complexes failed to preserve menthol even during storage.
Conclusions:
- Cyclodextrin inclusion complexation is an effective strategy for creating temperature-stable, functional electrospun nanofibers.
- The choice of solvent and cyclodextrin type significantly impacts the stabilization of fragrance/flavor molecules.
- This approach opens possibilities for developing multi-functional nanofibers for various applications.
