Electrospinning was used to load curcumin (a natural compound that has antiinflammatory properties) into zein nanofibers. An emulsifier, Tween 80, was combined with curcumin in the zein nanofibers. The morphology of the curcumin-loaded zein nanofibers (CLZNFs) was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Investigation of curcumin released from the zein nanofibers into phosphate buffer saline at pH 7 indicated that the Tween 80 had increased the amount of curcumin released from the CLZNFs. The antibacterial activity of the CLZNFs against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was determined by measuring the optical density of bacterial solutions containing CLZNFs. The zein nanofibers fabricated with 10 wt% surfactant and 1.6 wt% curcumin showed high (i.e., 83%) efficiency in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus in the solution incubated for 21 h. These results suggest that the electrospun CLZNFs show potential application as antibacterial nonwoven mats.

Keywords: electrospinning; curcumin; Tween 80; zein; antibacterial property.