Poly caprolactone Nanofibers Containing Camphor and Thymol: Fabrication, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Applications

Bacterial infections remain a global health challenge due to antibiotic resistance. This research incorporated camphor, thymol, and their mixture into poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibers. The nanofibers were characterized for size, morphology, water contact angle, and chemical interactions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The encapsulation efficacy of camphor and thymol was determined using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The antibacterial efficacy of the nanofibers was evaluated using the AATCC100 method against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. The nanofibers were hydrophobic, with over 95% encapsulation efficacy and a size range of 160–190 nm. They exhibited complete inhibition of bacterial growth. This study provides valuable insights into the controlled fabrication of uniform electrospun nanofibrous structures with embedded bioactive compounds, paving the way for potential applications in biomedical and antimicrobial settings, food packaging, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.