Use of electrospun chia seed mucilage nanofibers rich in biopolymers in encapsulation of Hypericum perforatum extract

In this study, Hypericum perforatum ethanolic extract (HPE) was encapsulated in electrospun chia seed mucilage (CM)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. Nanofiber production was carried out using the electrospinning method. Nanofibers were characterized (SEM, FTIR, XRD) and antioxidant properties were determined. SEM images show that the nanofibers without HPE had a smooth surface, bead-free, uniform, randomly oriented round-shaped morphology. The average diameters of CM+PVA and CM+PVA+HPE nanofibers were 72 nm and 290 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra indicate that the components of these materials are physically mixed together without any chemical reaction. According to the DPPH test, the average antioxidant activities of CM+PVA and CM+PVA+HPE nanofibers were 63.46 % and 82.56 %, respectively. In conclusion, the CM used in this study, with its biopolymer content, can be an alternative to synthetic polymers in producing electrospun nanofibers. Electrospun fibers produced with biological polymers have great potential for biomedical applications. Thanks to their cell-friendly structures and functional properties, such as controlled drug release, they play a critical role in many areas, such as tissue engineering, wound dressings, and drug delivery systems. In this study, HP-loaded nanofibers were produced for the first time. These nanofibers can be used in nanofiber wound dressings with their wound healing properties due to HPE.