An investigation of the antimicrobial properties of pectin polymer modified with polyphenolic bioactive materials

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant microbes pose a growing challenge to skin health, prompting research into natural antimicrobial alternatives. Plant-based polysaccharides, particularly pectin, show promise in this field. Modifying pectin with polyphenolic compounds, such as those from grape seed extract, enhances its antimicrobial efficacy and broadens its spectrum of activity. These natural, eco-friendly compounds offer potential for developing novel skin therapies to combat antibiotic resistance and improve wound healing. Ongoing research seeks to fully harness these compounds' potential for advancing skin health outcomes.Goals: Our goal in this study was to create a natural product that has antimicrobial effects and can potentially be used to heal wounds on the skin, avoid complicated skin infections, and overcome the obstacles caused by microbial resistance. Method: The process began with the oxidation of pectin using sodium periodate to create dialdehyde pectin, which was then purified through dialysis and freeze-dried. Aminated pectin was produced by reacting the dialdehyde pectin with dodecylamine under heat and distillation.The aminated pectin was dissolved in trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and combined with a PVA solution in formic acid at various ratios. Using the electrospinning technique, we fabricated nanofibers with different concentrations of aminated pectin. To enhance antimicrobial efficacy, grape seed extract dissolved in ethanol was applied to the nanofibers, potentially providing a synergistic effect.The antimicrobial properties of the nanofibers were assessed using the disk diffusion method against selected pathogenic microbial strains.Results:Noticeable zones of inhibition obtained by modified pectin nanofibers were seen and evaluations are presented in the subsequent chapters.Discussion and Conclusion:We ran an experiment to investigate the antibacterial properties of nanofiber made of natural materials. After producing nanofibers containing varying concentrations of pectin, PVA, and grape seed extract, the disk diffusion test was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the materials.