Electrospun balangu (Lallemantia royleana) hydrocolloid nanofiber mat as a fast-dissolving carrier for bergamot essential oil

The aim of this study was to produce fast-dissolving fiber mats based on balangu seed gum (BSG) loaded with bergamot essential oil (BEO) using the electrospinning method. Stock solutions of BSG (0.5% w/v) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, 10% w/v) were mixed with different ratios (5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8 and 1:9 v/v) and emulsified with 3% (w/w) essential oil and 1% (w/w) Tween-20. Increasing the BSG level in BSG-PVA mixtures resulted in higher electrical conductivity, surface tension and also consistency coefficient values. Based on the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, it was found that BSG to PVA ratios of 3:7 and 2:8 led to the production of fibers with appropriate morphological structure. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) images also confirmed the mat-like and bead-free structure of the fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) proved that the BEO was physically entrapped in fiber mat structures without any adverse interaction with the encapsulant material. The fabricated mats could be dissolved in the aqueous medium within 5 s. The release kinetic of the loaded BEO was investigated in simulated aqueous tea medium. It was shown that the Fickian transfer phenomenon was the dominant mechanism involved in the release process. Giving a burst release to the flavoring agents, the designed system could be considered as a promising step in the food industry.