Facile single-step synthesis of centrifugally spun zein fibers encapsulating housefly oil

This study investigates centrifugal spinning as a novel approach for producing zein fibers encapsulating housefly oil (HO). Different concentrations of housefly oil (15 %, 30 %, and 45 %; w/w) were evaluated, with rotation speeds ranging from 6000 to 12,000 rpm, to establish optimal production parameters. SEM images revealed continuous fiber formation, with the presence of beads and fiber diameters ranging from 2.16 to 3.39 μm. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic bands of both zein and housefly oil, while contact angle measurements indicated superhydrophilic properties. TGA demonstrated that greater oil content increased thermal complexity, with 30 % and 45 % oil fibers showing higher residual mass above 400 °C. Zein/HO fibers presented encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity up to 93.76 % and 36.25 %, respectively, across different samples. Furthermore, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays demonstrated scavenging activities of approximately 70 % in both tests, indicating the significant antioxidant potential of the encapsulated housefly oil within the fibers. Overall, these analyses confirmed the effectiveness of centrifugal spinning for producing zein fibers encapsulating HO, highlighting its potential for applications involving bioactive materials and volatile compounds, such as cosmetics, food packaging and feeding of farm animals.