BANGKOK, Thailand—A recent study prepared electrospun fiber mats and incorporated extracts from the fruit hull of mangosteen (Int J Cosmet Sci. 2009;31(3):242). Electrospun fiber mats have high potentials for biomedical uses, due to their high surface area and ease of drug incorporation into the fibers. They can be used as carriers for drug delivery and can enhance drug release and skin permeability. Antioxidant activity and extract release were determined and compared between the extract incorporated in the electrospun fiber mats and in the cast films. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was selected as the polymer matrix. Extracts in the amount of 2.5 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent w/w, based on the weight of PVA, were incorporated with 10 percent w/w PVA to finally obtain electrospun fiber mats and cast films. The extract content was evaluated by antioxidative activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1picryhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The morphology of the electrospun fiber mats was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the diameters of the fibers were in nanoscales and that no crystal of the extract was found at any concentration of the extract. The extract contents in the electrospun fiber mats prepared at 2.5 percent, 5 percent, and 10 percent w/w of the extract were 9.6 percent, 9.7 percent and 10.8 percent of the initial loading concentration, respectively, whereas, those in the cast films were 23.9 percent, 14.5 percent and 21.0 percent, respectively. The release of the extract from the electrospun fiber mats prepared at 2.5 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent w/w of the extract at 120 minutes were 73.2 percent 83.6 percent and 81.3 percent w/w, respectively. However, much slower release from the cast films was observed.
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