Synthesis of nanofibers incorporated with pineapple peel extract with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory application in the cosmetic industry

Abstract

The pineapple industry annually produces over 315,000 tons of non-utilized waste such as the stem, crown, and peel, which represents up to 67 % of the whole fruit. It has been demonstrated that pineapple peel is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, which can be utilized in the cosmetic industry, for example in pull-off products, if they are incorporated and stabilized in suitable delivery systems. In the present work, Polylactic acid (PLA) and Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers loaded with 10, 20, and 30 % Pineapple peel powder (PA) were synthesized using a commercial extrusion machine. Effective incorporation of PA into the fibers was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared and Differential Scanning Calorimetry, where the results showed incorporation of PA into polymer fibers due to the formation of new chemical bonds and interactions. Morphological characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy shows fibers ranging in size from 3.7 to 90.19 μm. The quantification, identification, and release rate of phenolic compounds were conducted by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method. PLA fiber with 20 % of PA showed the maximum retention of phenolic compounds, with 1243.69±234.14 μg compound/ g fiber), whilst the PCL fibers showed a rapid release, up to 95.79 ± 5.94 % in 24 hrs. These results show the feasibility of a commercial extrusion machine to synthesize polymeric fibers with potential use in the cosmetic industry as a delivery system for phenolic compounds found in pineapple peel.