Fabrication, characterization, cytocompatibility, and biological activity of lemon fiber-filled polyester composites

The structure, cytocompatibility, and biological activity of composites prepared from polycaprolactone (PCL) and lemon fiber (LF) blends (PCL/LF) were evaluated. Acrylic acid-grafted PCL (PCL-g-AA) was used to enhance the desirable characteristics of these composites, which had better tensile properties than the corresponding PCL/LF composites. A cytocompatibility evaluation with normal human foreskin fibroblasts of the water released from the PCL/LF and PCL-g-AA/LF composites indicated that both materials were nontoxic. Moreover, LF enhanced the flavonoid and polyphenol contents and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the PCL-g-AA/LF and PCL/LF composites. We analyzed the effects of these composites in mushroom tyrosinase activity and B16-F10 melanoma cells; the PCL/LF and PCL-g-AA/LF membranes demonstrated reduced tyrosinase activity. Composites of PCL-g-AA or PCL containing LF had better antibacterial activity.