EMULSION ELECTROSPINNING OF PVA NANOFIBERS CONTAINING HYPERICUM PERFORATUM OIL

The aim of this study is to produce essential oil loaded nanofiber wound dressings from PVA, which is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, by emulsion electrospinning method. Hypericum Perforatum oil, known for its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties on skin disorders, was used and Kolliphor RH40 surfactant was added to emulsify oil in polymer solution. In order to examine the effect of surfactant amount on nanofiber morphology, surfactant was used at 2%, 4% and 6% (w/w) ratios. The effect of surfactant concentration on solution viscosity and fibre morphology were investigated by viscosity measurements and SEM analysis. To confirm the presence of Hypericum Perforatum oil in nanofibers structure FT-IR spectroscopy analysis were carried out. According to the results, the solution viscosity increased as the amount of surfactant increased. Additionally, it was observed that the average diameters of nanofibers, containing 2%, 4%, and 6% surfactant (w/w), increased compared to the pristine PVA nanofiber. In conclusion, the fiber morphology of Hypericum Perforatum oil-containing PVA nanofibers has been changed with the effect of surfactant.