Electrospun Chitosan/Gelatin Nanofibers Loaded with Kojic Acid and Black Elderberry Extract: Taguchi Optimization, Release Kinetics, and In Vitro Evaluation

Abstract Developing multifunctional, naturally derived nanofibers remains a major goal in regenerative medicine. This study introduces, for the first time, electrospun nanofibrous mats composed of chitosan (CS), gelatin (GL), kojic acid (KA), and black elderberry extract (BE)—a scarcely explored bioactive plant extract in electrospun systems. The fabrication process was systematically optimized using the Taguchi design approach, which is rarely applied to this class of biopolymer blends. Optimal electrospinning conditions (CS : GL = 1 : 1, 15 cm needle-collector distance, 1.0 mL/h flow rate, 20 kV) yielded fine, uniform fibers with minimal diameter variation. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed high fiber quality, while BE release followed a firstorder kinetic model, enabling controlled, concentrationdependent delivery. The optimized mats exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, along with excellent hydrophilicity and human skin fibroblast (Hs27) compatibility. By combining biopolymer synergy, natural antioxidant infusion, and statistical process optimization, the developed CS/GL/KA/BE nanofibers present a novel and robust platform for advanced wound healing and regenerative medicine applications.