مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Antibacterial and Antioxidant Bioactivity of Electrospun PVA Mats Loaded with Hydroalcoholic Extract of Iranian Propolis
Antibacterial and Antioxidant Bioactivity of Electrospun PVA Mats Loaded with Hydroalcoholic Extract of Iranian Propolis
Tahereh Mehrvarz,1Abbas Parham,2,*Hamd Mahdavi,3
1. Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Research Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 3. Department of Novel Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Science, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Free radicals are natural metabolites produced in living cells and are known to contribute to tissue damage and neurodegenerative disorders. Tissue engineering, which combines cells with scaffolds enriched with bioactive compounds, has been developed to aid in regenerating damaged tissues. This study investigates the antioxidant properties of electrospun mats fabricated from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a hydrophilic and biocompatible synthetic polymer enriched with a hydroalcoholic Iranian propolis (EEP) extract. Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by honeybees from plants and is rich in biologically active compounds
Methods: Concentrated propolis extract was obtained by maceration in 70% ethanol, followed by filtration and rotary evaporation. The antioxidant activity of EEP was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. A 10% w/v PVA solution was prepared at 80 °C, and after cooling, 3% w/w of EEP (relative to PVA) was included. Electrospinning was performed under a voltage of 20 kV and a needle-to-collector distance of 12 cm to produce nanofibrous mats. By using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the interactions between functional groups had been analyzed. Fiber morphology and diameter distribution were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cell adhesion was determined by contact angle (CA) measurements, and cytocompatibility was evaluated using the L929 fibroblast cell line. Antimicrobial activity of the mats was assessed using the disk diffusion method against standard ATCC strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
Results: DPPH assay confirmed the antioxidant potential of EEP, demonstrating dose-dependent radical scavenging activity, with concentrations up to 30 µL showing significant inhibition. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic PVA bands at 3200 cm⁻¹ (OH stretching) and CH/CH₂ around 1420 cm⁻¹. Upon addition of EEP, band shifts were observed due to hydrogen bonding, particularly in the 1400–1700 cm⁻¹ region, corresponding to phenolic and aromatic compounds in propolis. SEM images showed homogeneous nanofiber matrices, with average fiber diameters of 0.2–0.4 µm for PVA mats and increased to 0.8 µm upon EEP incorporation. Propolis enhanced the stability of the mats and reduced the contact angle to 47°, indicating improved hydrophilicity. L929 cell assays demonstrated enhanced cytocompatibility, including improved adhesion and proliferation on EEP-enriched mats. Disk diffusion tests revealed significant antibacterial activity of EEP-loaded mats against both bacterial strains
Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of propolis-loaded scaffolds to support cell growth and proliferation. Incorporation of propolis into electrospun PVA mats enhanced their bioactivity by imparting both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of propolis suggests its promising role in mitigating oxidative stress, a significant factor in neurodegenerative diseases. The dual functionality of propolis not only strengthens the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects but also improves the structural stability of the mats, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications.