Fabrication, Structural Characterization, and In Vitro Release Kinetics of Electrospun PVA Nanofiber Patches Encapsulating a Polyherbal Extract Mixture for Oral Mucosal Applications

Background/Objectives: Localized drug delivery platforms offer promising therapeutic approaches for oral mucosal conditions, including recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Methods: In this study, electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous matrices incorporating a four-component aqueous botanical extract mixture (Hypericum perforatum, Urtica dioica, Punica granatum peel, and Syzygium aromaticum) were synthesized using a nominal 7% (w/v) polymer concentration and systematically evaluated for structural, antibacterial, and dissolution properties. Results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed an interconnected three-dimensional network of bead-free, randomly oriented submicrometer fibers with mean diameters ranging between 270 and 300 nm. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) identified characteristic functional groups, including hydroxyl, aliphatic C–H, carbonyl, and C–O bands; however, baseline physical state disparities between liquid reference extracts and the solid nanofibrous matrix precluded unambiguous resolution of specific polymer–extract molecular interactions. In triple-independent antibacterial assays, the nanofilms demonstrated notable growth inhibition against Gram-negative pathogens, with mean zone diameters of 21.85 ± 0.41 mm for Escherichia coli and 19.14 ± 1.95 mm for Salmonella enterica (inclusive of the 6 mm disk specimen), whereas no detectable inhibition was observed against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro release profiles in phosphate-buffered saline (37 °C, 48 h) exhibited rapid early liberation approaching a near-plateau within 12 h, followed by minor non-monotonic fluctuations. Kinetically, the liberation profile showed poor alignment with the Higuchi model (R2 = 0.406), while early-stage data conformed to Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics (n ≈ 1.000), indicating anomalous non-Fickian transport mediated by coupled matrix hydration and polymer relaxation rather than pure Fickian diffusion. Conclusions: Collectively, these in vitro findings support the potential of extract-loaded PVA electrospun nanofilms as candidate localized oral matrices. Nevertheless, rigorous translational validation—encompassing quantitative release assays, cytocompatibility, mucosal bioadhesion, retention under dynamic salivary flow, and shelf-life stability—remains imperative to confirm clinical suitability.