Electrospinning is a well‐known technique for producing nanofibers using synthetic and natural polymers like mucilage. In this study, Plantago major Mucilage (PMM) was blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a nontoxic adding agent, in order to produce electrospun nanofiber. Electrospinning parameters (voltage, tip‐to‐collector distance, feed rate, and PMM/PVA ratio) were optimized and solution properties were analyzed. The morphology of nanofibers was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Mechanical strength of nanofibers was determined, and cell viability on nanofibers was discussed by MTT assay. The results of SEM indicated that the PMM/PVA (50/50) nanofibers obtained with average diameter of 250 nm. Viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface tension of PMM/PVA solution were 550 Cp, 575 μS/cm, and 47.044 mN/m, respectively. FTIR and XRD results verified the exiting PMM in produced nanofibers and no chemical reaction between PMM and PVA. Improvement in mechanical strength and cell viability of nanofibers by adding PMM to PVA nanofibers indicated the potential application of PMM‐based nanofibers for medical and food industries. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47852.

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In this study, a biocompatible nanofiber is fabricated using Plantago ovata mucilage (POM) combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is considered as a non‐toxic polymer. High quality nanofibers were produced by controlling the electrospinning parameters after selecting an appropriate solvent for the POM/PVA combination (12% PVA and 3% POM). Electrospinning parameters, including high voltage, distance from collector to tip, feed rate and POM to PVA proportion were optimized following preparation of an aqueous POM/PVA solution. Using the results of scanning electron microscopy, the optimized electrospinning conditions for producing POM/PVA nanofibers were determined (high voltage = 18 kV, distance = 15 cm, feed rate = 0.125 ml/hr, PMM/PVA = 50/50) and uniform nanofibers with an average diameter of 250 nm were produced. The POM/PVA nanofiber sample was evaluated by determining the mechanical strength, characterization of produced nanofiber morphology, and investigating the cell viability by applying MTT assay. The bands for both POM and PVA from FTIR results showed that the samples remained stable. The tensile strength results showed that blending POM with PVA solution enhanced the Young's modulus by factor of 3.2 (0.2 MPa to 0.64 MPa). The MTT analysis on POM/PVA cell lines proved that the produced nanofiber considerably enabled the cellular proliferation. Enhancement in these analysis indicated how POM‐based nanofibers is a promising scaffold for cell culture, drug delivery systems and food additives.

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