Effect of Electrical Potential on the Morphology of Polyvinyl Alcohol/ Sodium Alginate Electrospun Nanofibers, Containing Herbal Extracts of Calendula Officinalis for Using in Biomedical Applications

This study aimed to investigate the effect of electrical potential on the morphology of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sodium Alginate electrospun nanofibers, containing herbal extracts of Calendula Officinalis. For this purpose, Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)/ Sodium Alginate (SAlg) nanofibers were prepared using the electrospinning method in aqueous solutions with PVA (8% w / v)/SAlg (2% w / v) blended system in a volume ratio of 80/20. Then Calendula officinalis extract (10% w / v)in a volume ratio of 10% of PVA/SAlg blended system added. Applying potentials were 5, 10, 15, and 20 kV. The electrospun fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that all the produced mats had high-porosity and high-surface to volume ratio of electrospun fibers. In all applied potentials, the diameter of the nanofibers containing Calendula was more than the Calendula-free Nanofibers. On the other hand, the diameters of the Nanofibers in each sample decreased with enhancing the potential. Without significant changes in mat morphology, PVA/SAlg electrospun nanofibers diameter including the Calendula could be controlled with electrical potential in electrospinning. The results could be used in antibacterial meshes, wound dressings, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications.