Investigation of biodegradable composites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) ultrathin fibers modified by a complex of iron(III) with tetraphenylporphyrin

Ultrathin fibers based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) containing a small concentration of iron(III) complex with tetraphenylporphyrin are obtained by electrospinning. In the absence of the complex, the fibers are characterized by the presence of cylindrical regions with a diameter of 1–3 and spindlelike regions with an average diameter of 7–10 μm. Introduction of the iron(III) complex with tetraphenylporphyrin into the polymer solution leads to the disappearance of spindlelike thickenings on the fibers. Addition of the complex to the polymer matrix results in a sharp rise in crystallinity and slows down the molecular mobility in the amorphous regions of ultrathin fibers. Annealing of the fibers at 140°C involves a sharp increase in the crystallinity of the polymer, while after addition of the complex this characteristic decreases abruptly. The final fibrous materials possess bactericidal properties and should find direct application in the creation of antibacterial and antineoplastic therapeutic systems.