Multifunctional polyvinyl alcohol-sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/quercetin-ZnO nanofiber composites: Synergistic...

In this study, multifunctional poly(vinyl alcohol)-sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/quercetin-zinc oxide (PVA-NaCMC/QUE-ZnO) nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning using biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles derived from Prunus spinosa extract. The incorporation of ZnO (13.9-20.6 wt%) led to a significant reduction in fiber diameter from ∼120 nm to 60-73 nm, indicating improved electrohydrodynamic stretching and interfacial charge balance. EDX and XRD analyses confirmed uniform nanoparticle distribution and the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. Thermal analysis revealed enhanced stability, with Td₅₀ increasing from 314 to 342 °C and Tg from 103 to 114 °C. Surface measurements showed a moderate increase in contact angle (56.6° → 61.2°) and a slight decrease in surface free energy (58.9 → 56.2 mN/m), indicating controlled modification of surface wettability while maintaining hydrophilic character. Electrical characterization demonstrated that AC conductivity increased from 2.0 × 10^-6 to 9.7 × 10^-6 S·cm^-1, accompanied by enhanced dielectric response (ε': 4.1 → 9.5) and reduced dielectric loss (tan δ) with ZnO incorporation. Antimicrobial tests showed increased inhibition zones (up to 15 mm), particularly against S. aureus. These results demonstrate a synergistic interaction between ZnO nanoparticles and quercetin, yielding nanofibers with improved thermal, dielectric, and antimicrobial properties. The developed system shows strong potential for biomedical coatings, wound dressings, and active food packaging applications.