Ultrasonic Degradation and Auxiliary Compatibilizer Polymer Application in Facilitating the Production of Biodegradable Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibers from Plantago psyllium L. Seed Gum

In this study, the Plantago psyllium L. seed gum (PPSG) was electrospun with gelatin as an auxiliary polymer to construct nanofibers. The modification of the rheological properties of PPSG and the structural properties of its nanofibers were evaluated as a function of biopolymer concentration and sonication time. The results showed that by increasing the sonication time, the apparent viscosity of PPSG solution decreased, thereby, the electrospinning properties of the biopolymer were improved. The morphological studies by SEM images also revealed that a mixture of 8% gelatin and 1.5% PPSG produced nanofibers without beads within the diameter range of 80–100 nm. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of PPSG and gelatin in the electrospun fabricated bio-nanocomposite and also showed no chemical reactions between the components of the electrospun nanofibers. The PPSG and gelatin nanocomposites could have various applications in biomedical researches, e.g., tissue engineering, drug-delivery platforms, and also food industry, especially as coating materials on nuts and dried fruits while being biodegradable and edible nanocomposites.