Pectin based composite nanofabrics incorporated with layered silicate and their cytotoxicity

Pectin based composite polymer nanofabrics incorporated with rectorite (REC) were fabricated via electrospinning. Continuous and uniform nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-Pectin (80/20) composite solution. REC was successfully introduced to the polymer composite nanofabrics, which was confirmed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Small angel X-ray diffraction demonstrated the REC in PVA-Pectin-REC composite nanofabrics was neither of an intercalated type nor of a completely exfoliated type. And organic-inorganic composite nanofabrics with enhanced thermal stability and cell viability were obtained, which was demonstrated by thermo-gravimetric analysis and cell cytotoxic evaluation results, respectively. High content of REC (≥1%) in composite nanofabrics could obviously reduce the cytotoxicity and improve the cell viability of the composite nanofabrics.