LAUSR

Abstract Electrospinning process has been applied to fabricate hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin fibers mat incorporating of cuminaldehyde. The inclusion complex formation between cuminaldehyde and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was proved by computational molecular docking. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance results revealed that cuminaldehyde was present in final inclusion complex at 0.92:1 molecular ratio. Moreover, the presence of cuminaldehyde in the electrospun fibers in the inclusion state along with the host hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin molecules was proved by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman spectroscopy revealed the formation of uniform fiber morphology with average fibers diameter of 381 ± 178 nm. The thermal stability of cuminaldehyde was improved after electrospinning process. Finally, the promising antibacterial activity of fibers against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus confirmed the suitability of electrospinning process for the developing cuminaldehyde-loaded fibers with potential application in food area such as active packaging structures.