Electrospun PVA/Chitosan Nanofibers Containing AgNPs and β-Sitosterol Exert Superior Antibacterial Effect
- 1King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- 2Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- 3Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Due to their well-documented robust antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are commonly used in wound dressings to prevent bacterial infection. β-sitosterol (BST), a plant-derived phytosterol, further supports wound healing processes through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proangiogenic properties. In this study, we constructed a novel delivery system for its potential use in wound healing. Polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) nanofibers were prepared incorporating both BST and AgNPs by electrospinning method. This synthesized PVA/CS/AgNPs/BST nanofiber system was found to comply with the desired size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and time course of release for incorporated components, as confirmed by SEM, TEM, FTIR, HPLC, and XRD analyses. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) test revealed a significantly greater bacterial growth inhibition for constructed nanofiber systems than for AgNPs alone or PVA/chitosan blank fibers. Individually, AgNPs and AgNPs + BST demonstrated significant antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains ATCC 29213, 43300, and BAA-977, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 62.5, 62.5, and 31.2 µg/mL, respectively. Likewise, AgNPs and AgNPs + BST showed antibacterial activities with MICs of 31.2 µg/mL and 15.6 µg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 27853 and MDR-7067 respectively. In contrast, no bacterial growth inhibitory effects were noted for BST against any of the studied bacterial strains. Compatibility analysis revealed that HFF1 cells treated with AgNPs and AgNPs + BST showed no cytotoxic effect at least up to concentrations of 15.6 µg/mL and 31.2 µg/mL, respectively, whereas BST alone had no effect on cell viability, even at higher concentrations. Collectively, these data show that the PVA/chitosan/AgNPs/BST system exercised a greater bacterial growth inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, underscoring its potential application in wound healing, subject to its in vivo validation.
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BibTeX
@article{almohaya2026electrospun,
title = {{Electrospun PVA/Chitosan Nanofibers Containing AgNPs and β-Sitosterol Exert Superior Antibacterial Effect}},
author = {Talal A. Almohaya and Salman Alrokayan and Tajamul Hussain},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nano16211438},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1438},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Electrospun PVA/Chitosan Nanofibers Containing AgNPs and β-Sitosterol Exert Superior Antibacterial Effect
AU - Talal A. Almohaya
AU - Salman Alrokayan
AU - Tajamul Hussain
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16211438
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1438
AB - Due to their well-documented robust antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are commonly used in wound dressings to prevent bacterial infection. β-sitosterol (BST), a plant-derived phytosterol, further supports wound healing processes through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proangiogenic properties. In this study, we constructed a novel delivery system for its potential use in wound healing. Polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) nanofibers were prepared incorporating both BST and AgNPs by electrospinning method. This synthesized PVA/CS/AgNPs/BST nanofiber system was found to comply with the desired size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and time course of release for incorporated components, as confirmed by SEM, TEM, FTIR, HPLC, and XRD analyses. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) test revealed a significantly greater bacterial growth inhibition for constructed nanofiber systems than for AgNPs alone or PVA/chitosan blank fibers. Individually, AgNPs and AgNPs + BST demonstrated significant antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains ATCC 29213, 43300, and BAA-977, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 62.5, 62.5, and 31.2 µg/mL, respectively. Likewise, AgNPs and AgNPs + BST showed antibacterial activities with MICs of 31.2 µg/mL and 15.6 µg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 27853 and MDR-7067 respectively. In contrast, no bacterial growth inhibitory effects were noted for BST against any of the studied bacterial strains. Compatibility analysis revealed that HFF1 cells treated with AgNPs and AgNPs + BST showed no cytotoxic effect at least up to concentrations of 15.6 µg/mL and 31.2 µg/mL, respectively, whereas BST alone had no effect on cell viability, even at higher concentrations. Collectively, these data show that the PVA/chitosan/AgNPs/BST system exercised a greater bacterial growth inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, underscoring its potential application in wound healing, subject to its in vivo validation.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -