fabrication of chitosan-polyethylene oxide electrospun nanofibrous mats containing green tea extract

Novel electrospun nanofibrous cs-peo nerve conduits containing 0, 2.5, and 5 % of green tea methanolic extract were developed and characterized by fe-sem, ft-ir, tga/dsc as well as tensile strength analysis. the fe-sem images revealed that all of the nanofibers had an average diameter of ∼80nm. the swelling degree was decreased by increasing the gt amount from 2.5 to 5 %, and this might be attributed to the enhanced interactions of nh2, c(o)nh2, and oh groups of chitosan and peo polymers with the oh groups of gt leading to a less hydrophilic mat surface, thus reducing the attraction by the aqueous medium. moreover, the swelling was at its highest in acidic medium; however, it was decreased in the neutral environment and had the least value within the alkaline medium. the cs-peo-5 % gt exhibited the highest antibacterial activity among three samples examined against both s. aureus and e. coli microorganisms. the cs-peo-5 % gt was proved to be a very suitable candidate to be used as a nerve conduit due to its improved tensile and antibacterial activities