Antimicrobial Electrospun Nanofibrous Mat Based on Essential Oils for Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Antimicrobial Materials

Background:

• Polyurethane (PU) nanofibers are versatile materials with potential biomedical applications.
• Essential oils possess natural antimicrobial properties.
• Combining PU nanofibers with essential oils could create novel antimicrobial biomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize polyurethane nanofibers containing tea tree, cinnamon bark, and clove essential oils.
• To investigate the effect of essential oil concentration on the mechanical properties of the nanofibers.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility of the essential oil-loaded nanofibers.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning was used to produce PU nanofibers incorporating three essential oils.
• Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) was employed for morphological analysis.
• Antibacterial activity was assessed against *Escherichia coli*, *Staphylococcus aureus*, and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*.
• In vitro cell culture studies were conducted to determine biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The electrospun nanofibers exhibited varying mechanical properties based on essential oil concentration.
• Nanofibers loaded with essential oils demonstrated significant antibacterial activity compared to control samples.
• In vitro cell culture confirmed the biocompatibility of the essential oil-containing nanofibrous mats.

Conclusions:

• Polyurethane nanofibers incorporating essential oils exhibit potent antibacterial properties.
• The developed nanofibrous mats are biocompatible and show promise for biomedical applications.
• This study highlights the potential of essential oil-loaded nanofibers as advanced antimicrobial biomaterials.