Phenolic compounds are prone to degradation from external deleterious conditions. Thus, a carrier for its delivery can be useful in protecting them and ensuring their optimal release profile. The objective of this study is to produce starch nanofibers as delivery carriers for carvacrol and to evaluate its in-vitro digestion simulation and anti-glioma activity. Nanofibers are produced by electrospinning of a starch solution where carvacrol is incorporated in various concentrations (20, 30, and 40% v/w; dry basis). The nanofibers are evaluated by in-vitro digestion simulation and anti-tumoral activity in C6 rat glioma cells and cytotoxicity in astrocytes. By measuring the residual amount of carvacrol after digestion, the starch nanofibers are shown to be a promising vehicle for the delivery of carvacrol by resisting in-vitro digestion. The carvacrol-loaded starch nanofibers result in up to 50% reduction in tumoral cells (C6 rat glioma cells). Free carvacrol elicits cytotoxicity in astrocytes after 72 h of treatment; interestingly the carvacrol-loaded starch nanofibers are not toxic to this cell. In view of the demand for natural drugs in pharmaceutical applications, the nanofibers may be promising for cancer complementary treatment.

https://doi.org/10.1002/star.202100115