Sustainable fabrication and evaluation of jackfruit peel-based pectin nanofibers for biomedical applications

This study presents a sustainable approach for extracting pectin from Jackfruit peel and its application in fabricating electrospun nanofibers for biomedical use. Pectin was extracted using 0.05 N oxalic acid, yielding 15.80 ± 0.02 % with a molecular weight of 209.27 kDa. Structural characterization by FTIR, NMR, and XRD confirmed oxygen-rich functional groups and partial crystallinity. To improve electrospinning performance, extracted pectin (JFPP) was blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), yielding uniform nanofibers with an optimal PVA: JFPP ratio of 7:3. The resulting fibers had an average diameter of 187.32 ± 53.77 nm and a tensile strength of 2.21 MPa. Water contact angle measurements showed strong hydrophilicity (as low as 25.8°), favorable for cell attachment. Antibacterial studies revealed inhibition zones exceeding 16 mm against both E. coli and S. aureus. Cytocompatibility assessed using MTS assay and AO/EtBr staining confirmed excellent cell viability and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts over 7 days. SEM analysis confirmed that the nanofibers promote cell adhesion, spreading, and alignment, which are essential for effective skin regeneration and wound healing. These results demonstrate that Jackfruit peel-derived pectin nanofibers are biocompatible, antimicrobial, and eco-friendly, highlighting their potential for wound healing and other biomedical applications while promoting the valorization of agro-industrial waste.