Fabrication of Cinnamaldehyde‐Loaded Polycaprolactone (PCL) Electrospun Nanofibers as a Potential Antibiofilm Preventative Approach Against <i>Escherichia coli</i>

The bacterial biofilm formation plays an important role in the spread of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an alternative approach to antibiotics to inhibit biofilm‐related infections. Electrospinning of nanofibers provides a high level of drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency. This study is aimed at inhibiting and dispersing the biofilm formation of Escherichia coli by using cinnamaldehyde‐loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibers. Two percent cinnamaldehyde‐loaded 12% PCL nanofibers were fabricated using the electrospinning technique. The morphology of fabricated nanofibers was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The biofilm formation inhibition and dispersion activity of cinnamaldehyde‐loaded PCL nanofibers were tested using a crystal violet assay. Cytotoxicity assessment of cinnamaldehyde against HFF‐1 cell line was conducted in vitro using the MTS assay. Cinnamaldehyde at a sub‐MIC level of 70 and 150 μ g/mL was able to inhibit the biofilm formation by 65% and 100%, respectively. For the biofilm dispersal, it was able to remove the formed biofilm by 87% and 100%, respectively. The cinnamaldehyde‐loaded PCL nanofibers were fabricated using the electrospinning technique with an EE of 83.58% and DL of 119.35 μ g/mg. Similarly, no growth of bacterial cells was observed at 6 mg/mL disk of 2% of cinnamaldehyde‐loaded 12% PCL nanofibers, with a complete (100%) removal of biofilm. However, all cinnamaldehyde concentrations (5000–30 μ g/mL) exhibited inhibitory effects on HFF‐1 cells. Due to its toxicity, the current study suggests using cinnamaldehyde on nonliving surfaces as a powerful antibacterial agent. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of cinnamaldehyde‐loaded PCL nanofibers in inhibiting and dispersing E. coli biofilm formation. This approach may be considered a possible strategy to inhibit hospital‐acquired infections by covering surfaces and biomedical devices with cinnamaldehyde‐loaded PCL nanofibers.