Electrospinning of Pullulan/Linalool-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex Nanofibers for Face Mask Functionalization
Abstract
In recent years, the development of nanofibrous structures have been used universally in medical and tissue engineering, commercial products, and nonwoven textiles. With the introduction of facemasks into everyday life as a result of COVID-19, there has been an uptick in necessity for masks with comfortability and protectivity. This experiment was conducted using an aromatic essential oil, linalool, and worked to form successful inclusion complexes made up of a combination of cyclodextrin, pullulan, and linalool. The goal is to create a nanofiber with similar bioactive properties as linalool, which can then be beneficially incorporated into the design of facial masks.
Procedure Summary
This experiment used the technique of electrospinning. Electrospinning is an electrohydrodynamic process where a high voltage power source pulls fibers from a syringe containing a solution. The solutions for this experiment were created by mixing measured amounts of linalool, pullulan, and γ-Cyclodextrin (CD). These solutions went through the electrospinning process, and the samples were placed under a digital optical microscope, where visual image analysis of the nanofibers was done. Additional tests were performed in order to characterize the sample further: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Various images of the process as well as the analytical results are collaged below. The final report for this ongoing project is linked here, and is also linked on the document displayed.
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In-depth optical microscope analysis of two samples of electrospun nanofibrous fibers. Left: Optical microscope images of the pullulan/linalool-γCD-IC sample experiment. Right: Optical microscope images of the pullulan/linalool control experiment.
Sampling of each of the different analysis done during the experiment. Left: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Middle: X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Right: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).