Nuclear chemistry

Engineering

Bacteria

Biology

Materials science

Ultimate tensile strength

Chitosan

Antibacterial activity

Botany

Polyvinyl alcohol

Chemical engineering

Polymer

Genetics

Organic chemistry

Electrospinning

Azadirachta

Composite material

Medicine

Chemistry

Scanning electron microscope

Nanofiber

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Thermal stability

Vinyl alcohol

Traditional medicine

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

The present study suggests the formation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-Azadirachta indica (neem)-chitosan blend nanofibrous mat (PNCNM) by bi-layered technique under optimum processing conditions. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria, morphology, bonding behavior, thermal stability, tensile behavior and moisture management properties of the developed sample had been investigated. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the homogeneous and smooth fibers produced having average diameter of 213.52nm (nm) with the minimum and maximum diameter of 152nm and 298nm respectively. Besides, it showed 91% porosity which is indicative of porous structure. The presence of PVA, neem constituents and chitosan was established by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) indicating the formation of hydrogen bonding among them. The addition of neem extracts led to enhanced thermal stability and moisture management properties. In addition, the developed mat showed a tensile strength of 18.78N corresponding to the elongation value of 4.98mm. Besides, the incorporation of neem extract into the nanofiber mat exhibited a significant synergistic antibacterial activity against bacterial cells through the formation of inhibition zone. Thus, the newly developed nanofibrous mat could turn out to be a suitable material for the wound dressing purpose.

Antibacterial bi-layered polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chitosan blend nanofibrous mat loaded with Azadirachta indica (neem) extract