Development of nanofiber textile surfaces containing a skin lightening agent, β-arbutin

In this study, it was aimed to develop nanofiber textile surfaces using chitosan and sodium alginate polymers and containing an active agent, β-arbutin (ARB), which has been proven by the literature to lighten skin and reduce skin blemishes. It is aimed to produce and characterize nanofibers with electrospinning method that is the most common nanofiber production method. Electrospinning of pure chitosan (CS) and pure sodium alginate (SA) polymers are difficult. Thus, an auxiliary polymer, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer was used. Morphological characterizations of PVA/SA, PVA/SA/ARB, PVA/CS and PVA/CS/ARB nanofiber surfaces were performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and long-term electrospinning of nanofiber surfaces were carried out after the optimum process parameters were determined. Characterization tests were conducted on the nanofiber surfaces that were produced by long-term electrospinning. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) analyses were applied and the characteristic peaks of the polymers and the active agent (β-arbutin) added into the fiber spinning solution were observed. Then, batch release tests were performed in isotonic solution (serum). UV-visible spectrophotometer analyses were applied to the release media taken at determined time intervals. And the β-arbutin release profiles of the CS and the SA nanofiber surfaces were determined. All of the results obtained from the study show that the nanofiber textile surfaces containing natural active agent that have skin lightening and reducing skin blemishes effects were successfully produced and the study will shed a light on the subject for future studies.