Encapsulation of flaxseed oil and eucalyptus essential oil using electrospinning

The use of medicinal plants in food has a long history. Flaxseed oil and eucalyptus essential oil are highly regarded due to their biological properties. In this research, the aim is to investigate the antimicrobial properties of zein nanofibers containing flaxseed oil and eucalyptus essential oil to control staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli bacteria in a laboratory environment. For this purpose, flaxseed oil mixed with eucalyptus essential oil in zein solution. Then, it was converted into nanofibers using an electrospinning machine. In order to study the characteristics and antimicrobial properties of the nanofibers, tests including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fiber diameter determination with Image J software, atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed. Investigation of antimicrobial properties of produced nanofibers by disk diffusion method were performed. The SEM results showed that the morphology of the electrospun fibers was uniform and free of beads. AFM images represented three-dimensional and tubular images of fibers obtained from electrospinning zein/flaxseed oil/eucalyptus essential oil. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed an increase in the crystallinity intensity of the treatments compared to the control sample. Based on thermal analysis results, eucalyptus and flaxseed oil increased the thermal stability of zein nanofibers. The results showed that the addition of flaxseed oil to eucalyptus essential oil strengthened the antimicrobial properties of nanofibers. According to the results of the present research, the zein/flaxseed oil/eucalyptus essential oil fibers can be used as natural antimicrobials.