Lemon Juice-Infused PVA Nanofibers for the Development of Sustainable Antioxidant and Antibacterial Electrospun Hydrogel Biomaterials

Cross-linking bonds adjacent polymer chains, into a three-dimensional network. Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) turns into a hydrogel, insoluble structure exhibiting outstanding sorption properties. As an electrospinnable polymer, PVA enables the creation of nanofibrous hydrogels resembling biological tissues, thus ideal for nature-inspired platforms. PVA properties are easily adjustable through additives and appropriate cross-linking method. Drawing inspiration from environmentally safe approaches, this work developed a new "green" method of low-temperature PVA cross-linking. Nanofibers were electrospun from a precursor solution of PVA dissolved in fresh lemon juice, stabilized by heating at 60 °C for 7 days, and thoroughly characterized. The obtained nanoplatform demonstrated long-term stability and enhanced mechanical properties. Its biocompatibility was confirmed, and its antibacterial and health-promoting effects were attributed to lemon juice – rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. The developed system has future potential for use in the biomedical engineering field as a dressing accelerating wound healing.