Fabrication of core/shell nanofiber membrane from chitosan, carrageenan, polyvinyl alcohol, and curcumin by two-layer coaxial electrospinning

Abstract

Coaxial electrospinning was used to successfully construct a core/shell nanofiber membrane made from chitosan (CS), carrageenan (CG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and curcumin (CCM). Factors influencing fiber fabrication were explored, including the PVA/CS/CG ratio of 8:1:1, CG concentration of 0.5%, distance from the needle tip to the substrate to 15 cm, voltage of 18 kV, and flow rate of 0.1/0.1 mL/h. The obtained nanofibers show a distinct core/shell structure (observed by TEM image), with a uniform diameter distribution in the range of 100-600 nm, most concentrated in the range of 100-300 nm, and an average diameter of 274.35 ± 19.57 nm. The FTIR data show that the PVA/CCM@PVA/CS/CG fiber membrane contains CG and CCM-specific functional groups. The results of CCM release in the fiber membrane demonstrate that the amount of CCM released is rapid within the first 6 hours. Beginning at 12 hours, the amount of CCM released tends to decelerate and progressively stabilize, and by 96 hours, the CCM content released has reached 83.96%. This finding demonstrates the possible use of a PVA/CCM@PVA/CS/CG nanofiber membrane in open wound healing.