Fabrication of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/Bidens pilosa Composite Electrospun Nanofibers with Enhanced Antibacterial Activities

Due to the current challenges faced by the increasing rate of drug-resistant bacteria, attention is gradually shifting from synthetic antimicrobial chemical compounds to natural products that are ecofriendly with a wide spectrum of properties. The aim of this research was to successfully fabricate electrospun nanofibers from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), PVA blended with Bidens pilosa and chitosan composite blends and investigate their potential antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Fabrication of nanofibers was performed by the electrospinning technique, which applies high voltage on the polymer, forcing it to spin off as a jet onto a plate collector. Characterization of the nanofibers was successfully performed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Antibacterial assessment was carried out by colony forming unit enumeration. The results obtained revealed a 12% increase in growth inhibition of bacteria in composite nanofibers as compared with their parental forms, which were >91 and 79%, respectively. Chitosan nanofibers have been extensively researched, and their antibacterial properties have been studied. However B. pilosa antibacterial properties in a nanofiber form have not been previously reported. These composite nanofibers open new avenues toward using natural materials as potent antibacterial agents.