The odour assessment of thyme essential oils in electrospun fibre mat with a virtual sensor array data and its relation to antibacterial activity

Abstract

Aims: The ability of a single-sensor gas diagnosis device (SSGDD) as a virtual sensor array data to appraise thyme essential oils (TEO) based on its quantitatively release rate from nanofibres was aimed.

Methods: To form nylon 6 fragrant electrospun nanofibre, TEO was added as a natural antibacterial substance under homogeniser to make a stable emulsion.

Results: The optimised nanofibre inactivated against Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria up to >75% at once and to > 41.9% over 2-weeks period. Moreover, large differences in sensor responses to samples with experimental variables (percent TEO and storage time) and different odour intensity exist which correctly classified by discriminant function analysis.

Conclusions: Odour intensity as an accessible incubator evinces the nanofibres efficiency which correlated to the antibacterial activity. With applying SSGDD technique as a quantified subjective solution, carefully odour assessment is possible and prepared mats could be demonstrated as a face-masks’ promising candidate.

Keywords:

• Electrospinning
• nylon 6
• thyme essential oil
• odour assessment
• single-sensor gas diagnosis device
• anti-bacterial

Acknowledgements

The authors would like thank to Mehdi Akbari for his kind help in arranging the e-nose system.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study received partial financial support of the Centre of Excellence, Modern Methods of Identification of Textiles (CENMIT).