Fabrication of electrospun polyvinylalcohol nanofiber containing Ferula assa-foetida gum extract and investigating its antibacterial properties

Electrospun nanofibers containing plant metabolites have been considered recently, for advancement of modern and efficient wound dressings. Ferula assa-foetida has recieved attention in traditional medicine because of its various healing properties. But, electrospinning of its gum could be challenging because of its physicochemical properties. In the present study, the electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers containing Ferula assa-foetida aqueous extract of gum (FAE) was prepared and characterized. The morphology and mechanical properties of the synthesized nanofibers were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and contact angle test. The uniform nanofibers with the average diameter of 375 nm were obtained by using 8 wt. % PVA, 1:4 (w: w %) ratio of FAE/ PVA, needle to collector distance of 13 cm, 20 kV voltage, collector rotation speed of 3 m/min, and flow rate of 0.5 mL/h. The use of aqueous extract led to the increased diameter of nanofibers and its contact angle compared to PVA nanofibers. Interestingly, the FAE/ PVA nanofibers displayed a considerable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The Inhibition zone diameters of nanofibers prepared by FAE was 8 mm for both of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.