Electrospun PLA-Based Biomaterials Loaded with Extract with Strong Antioxidant Activity.

In the present study, the plant extract ( was successfully loaded in polymer fibrous materials on the basis of a biodegradable polyester-poly(L-lactide) (PLA) and biocompatible polyether-polyethylene glycol (PEG) by applying the electrospinning method. The optimal process conditions for the preparation of hybrid fibrous materials were found. The extract concentration was varied-0, 5 or 10 wt% in respect of the polymer weight, in order to study its influence on the morphology and the physico-chemical properties of the obtained electrospun materials. All the prepared fibrous mats were composed of defect-free fibers. The mean fiber diameters of the PLA, PLA/ (5 wt%) and PLA/ (10 wt%) were 1370 ± 220 nm, 1398 ± 233 nm and 1506 ± 242 nm, respectively. The incorporation of the into the fibers resulted in slight increase of the fiber diameters and in increase of the water contact angle values to 133°. The presence of the polyether in the fabricated fibrous material assisted the wetting of the materials imparting them with hydrophilicity (the value of the water contact angle become 0°). Extract-containing fibrous materials displayed strong antioxidant activity as determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical method. The DPPH solution color changed to yellow and the absorbance of the DPPH radical dropped by 88.7% and 91% after being in contact with PLA/ and PLA/PEG/ mats, respectively. These features revealed the -containing fibrous biomaterials promising candidates for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and biomedical use.