Viscoelastic gels of xanthan gum-chitosan(X-Ch) in formic acid were electrospun to produce nanofibers, stable in aqueous media, for the encapsulation and release of curcumin (Cu). After 120 h, the nanofibers released lower amount of curcumin (similar to 20%) at pH 2.2 comparatively to the release in neutral media (similar to 50%), suggesting that X-Ch nanofibers could be used as a carrier for the encapsulation of hydrophobic bioactive compounds with long-term pH-stimulated release properties. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.