Piperine-Loaded Zein Electrospun Nanofibers: Development, Characterization and Antibacterial Application

One therapeutic approach to overcome the antibiotic resistance of biofilms is to employ new drug delivery systems. Meanwhile, investigations on nanofibers with appropriate formulations due to their unique characteristics are being conducted remarkably. Piperine, as a natural substance, and its antibacterial effects have been confirmed in several studies. Therefore, in the current study, the antibacterial potential of piperine-loaded zein nanofibers on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm was evaluated. The nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning technique with different concentrations of piperine (2.5, 5, and 10% w/v). The morphology, thermal stability, crystallinity, and functional groups of the nanofibers were characterized by FE-SEM, TGA, XRD, and FTIR, respectively. The results showed that the nanofibers had uniform and bead-free morphology, and the diameter of the nanofibers increased with the increase in piperine concentration. Piperine improved the thermal stability of zein nanofibers and maintained its crystalline structure. FTIR spectra indicated no chemical interaction between zein and piperine in the nanofibers. The nanofibers exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm in a concentration-dependent manner. The nanofibers containing 10% piperine had the highest antibacterial efficacy, comparable to gentamicin. The nanofibers also showed higher biofilm removal ability than free piperine. These findings suggest that piperine-loaded zein nanofibers are promising candidates for preventing and treating biofilm-related infections.