(765d) Incorporation of Cinnamaldehyde Into Chitosan Nanofiber Mats

Approximately five percent of patients hospitalized in the United States will contract a health-care associated infection each year. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of drug-resistant bacteria rendering numerous antibiotics ineffective. Thus, research into novel surface coatings that release broad-spectrum biocidal agents is imperative. Historically, cinnamaldehyde (CA), the main component of cinnamon bark, has been used to fight bacterial infections by non-specifically inactivating bacteria. In this work, nanofiber mats were electrospun from solutions containing CA, chitosan, and polyethylene oxide. Turbidity and light scattering measurements were employed to characterize the pre-spun polymer solution. Electrospinning process parameters — feed rate, applied voltage, and separation distance — were optimized so that continuous, cylindrical fibers could be synthesized. Verification of fiber morphology was determined via scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to confirm the successful incorporation of CA within the nanofibers. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of CA encapsulated within chitosan nanofibers as anti-biofilm coatings.