Abstract:

In this study, bioactive fibres were produced using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a polymer matrix, and different amounts of folic acid (FA) as a vitamin using the electrospinning technique. Loading of the folic acid in the polymers was determined by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR); morphologies and average diameters were analysed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was applied to determine thermal behaviours. The FTIR spectra and TGA thermograms showed the successful incorporation of folic acid into the fibres. SEM images showed that various smooth and heterogenous electrospun fibres were produced with average diameters ranging from 125 to 980 nm. An in-vitro study was carried out using dissolved FA in an artificial sweat solution (acidic media, pH 5.44), and UV-Vis analysis of electrospun fibres was made. The in vitro release study showed that the FA loaded nanofibres had initial vitamin burst release behaviour. The maximum vitamin release percentage of the PVA/FA, gelatin/FA, and PVP/FA fibres was obtained as 86.88%, 80.2%, and 76.66%, respectively. From these results, we can state that FA-loaded fibres can be potential candidates for transdermal patches and topical applications.