Synthesis of four‐armed poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) by diethylzinc catalyst

Biodegradable, amphiphilic, four‐armed poly(?‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL‐b‐PEO) copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide in the presence of four‐armed poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) with terminal OH groups with diethylzinc (ZnEt₂) as a catalyst. The chemical structure of PCL‐b‐PEO copolymer was confirmed by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The hydroxyl end groups of the four‐armed PCL were successfully substituted by PEO blocks in the copolymer. The monomodal profile of molecular weight distribution by gel permeation chromatography provided further evidence for the four‐armed architecture of the copolymer. Physicochemical properties of the four‐armed block copolymers differed from their starting four‐armed PCL precursor. The melting points were between those of PCL precursor and linear poly(ethylene glycol). The length of the outer PEO blocks exhibited an obvious effect on the crystallizability of the block copolymer. The degree of swelling of the four‐armed block copolymer increased with PEO length and PEO content. The micelle formation of the four‐armed block copolymer was examined by a fluorescent probe technique, and the existence of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) confirmed the amphiphilic nature of the resulting copolymer. The cmc value increased with increasing PEO length. The absolute cmc values were higher than those for linear amphiphilic block copolymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 950–959, 2004     

Double‐layered composite nanofibers and their mechanical performance

Continuous polymer nanofibers are available through electrospinning, but most have the same structure in their cross section. This article focuses on the fabrication and the structural and mechanical characterization of pencil‐like double‐layered composite nanofibers coaxially electrospun from solutions of two different biodegradable materials, i.e., gelatin and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). Transmission electron microscopy and water contact angle measurements confirmed that a gelatin inner fiber was wrapped with a PCL outer layer. Possible applications of such nanofibers include a controlled degradation rate when used as a medical device in human body. It has been found that the tensile performance of the composite nanofibers was better than those of both the pure constituent, i.e. gelatin and PCL, nanofibers alone. The ultimate strength and ultimate strain of the composite nanofibers with 7.5% w/v gelatin in the core and 10% w/v PCL as shell were at least 68% and 244% higher, respectively, than those of the same concentration pure gelatin and PCL nanofibers. Thus, a coaxial electrospinning technique as used in this article can be applicable, not only in developing functionalized nanofibers but also in elevating their mechanical property. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2852–2861, 2005     

Synthesis of branch‐ring‐branch tadpole‐shaped [linear‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)]‐b‐[cyclic‐poly(ethylene oxide)]‐b‐ [linear‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)] by combination of glaser coupling reaction with ring‐opening polymerization

A novel amphiphilic branch‐ring‐branch tadpole‐shaped [linear‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)]‐b‐[cyclic‐poly(ethylene oxide)]‐b‐[linear‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)] [(l‐PCL)‐b‐(c‐PEO)‐b‐(l‐PCL)] was synthesized by combination of glaser coupling reaction with ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) mechanism. The self‐assembling behaviors of (l‐PCL)‐b‐(c‐PEO)‐b‐(l‐PCL) and their π‐shaped analogs of poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(ethylene oxide)]‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐[poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(ethylene oxide) with comparable molecular weight in water were preliminarily investigated. The results showed that the micelles formed from the former took a fiber look, however, that formed from the latter took a spherical look. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

A roadmap for poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone self‐assembly in water: Prediction,synthesis, and characterization

Numerical self‐consistent field (SCF) lattice computations allow a priori determination of the equilibrium morphology and size of supramolecular structures originating from the self‐assembly of neutral block copolymers in selective solvents. The self‐assembly behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PEO‐PCL) block copolymers in water was studied as a function of the block composition, resulting in equilibrium structure and size diagrams. Guided by the theoretical SCF predictions, PEO‐PCL block copolymers of various compositions have been synthesized and assembled in water. The size and morphology of the resulting structures have been characterized by small‐angle X‐ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and multiangle dynamic light scattering. The experimental results are consistent with the SCF computations. These findings show that SCF is applicable to build up roadmaps for amphiphilic polymers in solution, where control over size and shape are required, which is relevant, for instance, when designing spherical micelles for drug delivery systems © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 330–339     

Electrospinning of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene nanofibers

The electrospinning method has been employed to fabricate ultrafine nanofibers of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene for the first time with a mixture of solvents of different dielectric constants and conductivities. The possibility of producing highly oriented nanofibers from ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polymers suggests new ways of fabricating ultrastrong, porous, and single‐component nanocomposite fibers with improved properties. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 766–773, 2007     

Electrospinning process using field‐controllable electrodes

For the production of uniaxially oriented nanofibers and a three‐dimensional, biodegradable scaffold consisting of nanosized fibers, an electrospinning process was modified with a cylindrical auxiliary electrode that was connected to a spinning nozzle to stabilize the initially spun solution and a parallel‐plate electrode as a collector generating an alternating‐current electric field for collecting spun jets. With the complex electric field in the electrospinning process, biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanofibers were stacked on a thin, dielectric substrate covering the electrode according to a predetermined design. The degree of orientation of spun nanofibers to the field direction of a target electrode was highly dependent on the applied frequency and field strength of the target electrode. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1426–1433, 2006     

Synthesis,self‐assembly,drug‐release behavior,and cytotoxicity of triblock and pentablock copolymers composed of poly(ε‐caprolactone), poly(L‐lactide), and poly(ethylene glycol)

Biocompatible and biodegradable ABC and ABCBA triblock and pentablock copolymers composed of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO) with controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities were synthesized by a click conjugation between alkyne‐terminated PCL‐b‐PLA and azide‐terminated PEO. Their molecular structures, physicochemical and self‐assembly properties were thoroughly characterized by means of FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. These copolymers formed microphase‐separated crystalline materials in solid state, where the crystallization of PCL block was greatly restricted by both PEO and PLA blocks. These copolymers self‐assembled into starlike and flowerlike micelles with a spherical morphology, and the micelles were stable over 27 days in aqueous solution at 37 °C. The doxorubicin (DOX) drug‐loaded nanoparticles showed a bigger size with a similar spherical morphology compared to blank nanoparticles, demonstrating a biphasic drug‐release profile in buffer solution and at 37 °C. Moreover, the DOX‐loaded nanoparticles fabricated from the pentablock copolymer sustained a longer drug‐release period (25 days) at pH 7.4 than those of the triblock copolymer. The blank nanoparticles showed good cell viability, whereas the DOX‐loaded nanoparticles killed fewer cells than free DOX, suggesting a controlled drug‐release effect. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and micellization of star‐like hyperbranched polymer with poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) arms

Novel star‐like hyperbranched polymers with amphiphilic arms were synthesized via three steps. Hyperbranched poly(amido amine)s containing secondary amine and hydroxyl groups were successfully synthesized via Michael addition polymerization of triacrylamide (TT) and 3‐amino‐1,2‐propanediol (APD) with feed molar ratio of 1:2. ¹H, ¹³C, and HSQC NMR techniques were used to clarify polymerization mechanism and the structures of the resultant hyperbranched polymers. Methoxyl poly(ethylene oxide) acrylate (A‐MPEO) and carboxylic acid‐terminated poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) were sequentially reacted with secondary amine and hydroxyl group, and the core–shell structures with poly(1TT‐2APD) as core and two distinguishing polymer chains, PEO and PCL, as shell were constructed. The star‐like hyperbranched polymers have different sizes in dimethyl sulfonate, chloroform, and deionized water, which were characterized by DLS and ¹H NMR. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1388–1401, 2008     

Atmospheric plasma treatment of pre‐electrospinning polymer solution: A feasible method to improve electrospinnability

The electrospinnability of polyethylene oxide (PEO) was manipulated by atmospheric plasma treatment of pre‐electrospinning solutions. Conductivity, viscosity, and surface tension of PEO solutions increased after plasma treatment, and the plasma effect remained longer when the solution concentrate increased. Both untreated and treated solutions were then electrospun, and the morphology of the resultant nanofibers was observed by SEM. Atmospheric plasma treatment improved the electrospinnability of PEO solutions and led to less beads and finer diameter distribution in the resultant nanofibers. Additionally, plasma treatment of the pre‐electrospinning solutions affected the crystal structure of resultant nanofibers. These results suggest that atmospheric plasma treatment is a feasible approach to improve the electrospinnability of polymer solutions and can used to control the structure of electrospun nanofibers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of crystalline graft polymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐g‐poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)2 with modulated grafting sites

The graft polymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐g‐poly(?‐caprolactone)₂ (PEO‐g‐PCL₂) with modulated grafting sites was synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) mechanism, efficient Williamson reaction, with thiol–ene addition reaction. First, the precursor of PEO‐Allyl‐PEO with two terminal hydroxyl groups and one middle allyl group was prepared by ROP of EO monomers. Then, the macroinitiator [PEO‐(OH)₂‐PEO]_s was synthesized by sequential Williamson reaction between terminal hydroxyl groups and thiol–ene addition reaction on pendant allyl groups. Finally, the graft polymer PEO‐g‐PCL₂ was obtained by ROP of ?‐CL monomers using [PEO‐(OH)₂‐PEO]_s as macroinitiator. The target graft polymer and all intermediates were well characterized by the measurements of gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The crystallization behavior was investigated by the measurements of differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and polarized optical microscope. The results showed that when the PCL content of side chains reached 59.2%, the crystalline structure had been dominated by PCL part and the crystalline structure formed by PEO part can be almost neglected. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2239–2247     

Conducting core‐sheath nanofibers for electroactive shape‐memory applications

Conducting nanofibers coated with polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) exhibiting core‐sheath structures were prepared by vapor‐phase polymerization of the conducting polymers on electrospun polyurethane nanofibers. The synthesis of the conducting polymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy‐disperse X‐ray spectroscopy. The surfaces of the PPy‐coated nanofibers were slightly rough, while very smooth and regular surfaces were observed in the case of the P3HT‐coated nanofibers. The initial polymerization rate of PPy was higher than that of P3HT. In addition, the electrical conductivities of the core‐sheath structured nanofiber webs of both types increased with polymerization time. The maximum sheet conductivity of the PPy and P3HT‐coated nanofiber webs was 5 × 10^?3 S/cm and 1 × 10^?2 S/cm, respectively. The webs of the conducting core‐sheath structured nanofibers were effective in generating sufficient electrical heating necessary for harnessing these materials for electroactive shape‐memory‐based applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Norbornene‐functionalized PEO‐b‐PCL: A versatile platform for mikto‐arm star,umbrella‐like,and comb‐like graft copolymers

Well‐defined in‐chain norbornene‐functionalized poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(?‐caprolactone) copolymers (NB‐PEO‐b‐PCL) were synthesized from a dual clickable containing both hydroxyl‐ and alkyne‐reactive groups, namely heterofunctional norbornene 3‐exo‐(2‐exo‐(hydroxymethyl)norborn‐5‐enyl)methyl hexynoate. A range of NB‐PEO‐b‐PCL copolymers were obtained using a combination of orthogonal organocatalyzed ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and click copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of NB‐PEO‐b‐PCL macromonomers using ruthenium‐based Grubbs’ catalysts provides comb‐like and umbrella‐like graft copolymers bearing both PEO and PCL grafts on each monomer unit. Mikto‐arm star A₂B₂ copolymers were obtained through a new strategy based on thiol–norbornene photoinitiated click chemistry between 1,3‐propanedithiol and NB‐PEO‐b‐PCL. The results demonstrate that in‐chain NB‐PEO‐b‐PCL copolymers can be used as a platform to prepare mikto‐arm star, umbrella‐, and comb‐like graft copolymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 4051–4061     

Crystallization and melting of poly(glycerol adipate)‐based graft copolymers with single and double crystallizable side chains

The crystallization and melting behavior of a series of poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) based graft copolymers with either poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), or PCL‐b‐PEO diblock copolymer side chains (i.e., PGA‐g‐PCL, PGA‐g‐PEO, and PGA‐g‐(PCL‐b‐PEO)) was studied using polarized light optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). These results were compared with the behavior of the corresponding linear analogs (PEO, PCL, and PCL‐b‐PEO). POM revealed that spherulitic morphology was retained after grafting. However, spherulite radius as well as radial growth rate was significantly smaller in the graft copolymers. Evaluation of isothermal crystallization kinetics by means of the Avrami theory revealed that the nucleation density was much higher in the graft copolymers. The DSC results indicated that the degree of crystallinity decreased strongly upon grafting while the melting temperatures of PGA‐g‐PCL and PGA‐g‐PEO were found to be close to the values of neat PCL and PEO, respectively. This was attributed to the absence of specific thermodynamic interactions, and, additionally, to lamella thicknesses being similar to those of the homopolymers. The latter point was confirmed by SAXS measurements. In case of PCL‐b‐PEO diblock copolymers and PGA‐g‐(PCL‐b‐PEO) graft copolymers, the crystallization behavior and thus the resulting lamellar morphology is more complex, and a suitable model was developed based on a combination of DSC, WAXD, and SAXS data. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1581–1591     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic copolymer of linear poly(ethylene oxide) linked with [poly(styrene‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)] using sequential controlled polymerization

A well‐defined amphiphilic copolymer of ‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) linked with comb‐shaped [poly(styrene‐co‐2‐hydeoxyethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)] (PEO‐b‐P(St‐co‐HEMA)‐g‐PCL) was successfully synthesized by combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) with ring‐opening anionic polymerization and coordination–insertion ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The α‐methoxy poly(ethylene oxide) (mPEO) with ω,3‐benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsufanylpropionic acid (BSPA) end group (mPEO‐BSPA) was prepared by the reaction of mPEO with 3‐benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsufanyl propionic acid chloride (BSPAC), and the reaction efficiency was close to 100%; then the mPEO‐BSPA was used as a macro‐RAFT agent for the copolymerization of styrene (St) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) using 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The molecular weight of copolymer PEO‐b‐P(St‐co‐HEMA) increased with the monomer conversion, but the molecular weight distribution was a little wide. The influence of molecular weight of macro‐RAFT agent on the polymerization procedure was discussed. The ROP of ε‐caprolactone was then completed by initiation of hydroxyl groups of the PEO‐b‐P(St‐co‐HEMA) precursors in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(Oct)₂). Thus, the amphiphilic copolymer of linear PEO linked with comb‐like P(St‐co‐HEMA)‐g‐PCL was obtained. The final and intermediate products were characterized in detail by NMR, GPC, and UV. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 467–476, 2006     

Synthesis of ABCD 4‐miktoarm star polymers by combination of RAFT,ROP, and “Click Chemistry”

The ABCD 4‐miktoarm star polymers based on polystyrene (PS), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were synthesized and characterized successfully. Using the mechanism transformation strategy, PS with three different functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl, alkyne, and trithiocarbonate), PS‐HEPPA‐SC(S)SC₁₂H₂₅, was synthesized by the reaction of the trithiocarbonate‐terminated PS with 2‐hydroxyethyl‐3‐(4‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl) acrylate (HEPPA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. Subsequently, the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) was carried out in the presence of stannous(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate and PS‐HEPPA‐SC(S)SC₁₂H₂₅, and then the PS‐HEPPA(PCL)‐SC(S)SC₁₂H₂₅ obtained was used in reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) to produce the ABC 3‐miktoarm star polymer, S(PS)(PCL)(PMA) carrying an alkyne group. The ABCD 4‐miktoarm star polymer, S(PS)(PCL)(PMA)(PEO) was successfully prepared by click reaction of the alkyne group on the HEPPA unit with azide‐terminated PEO (PEO‐N₃). The target polymer and intermediates were characterized by NMR, FTIR, GPC, and DSC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6641–6653, 2008     

Fabrication of Electrically Conducting Polypyrrole‐Poly(ethylene oxide) Composite Nanofibers

Summary: Electrically conducting polypyrrole‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PPy‐PEO) composite nanofibers are fabricated via a two‐step process. First, FeCl₃‐containing PEO nanofibers are produced by electrospinning. Second, the PEO‐FeCl₃ electrospun fibers are exposed to pyrrole vapor for the synthesis of polypyrrole. The vapor phase polymerization occurs through the diffusion of pyrrole monomer into the nanofibers. The collected non‐woven fiber mat is composed of 96 ± 30 nm diameter PPy‐PEO nanofibers. FT‐IR, XPS, and conductivity measurements confirm polypyrrole synthesis in the nanofiber.

An SEM image of the PPy‐PEO composite nanofibers. The scale bar in the image is 500 nm.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined ABC 3‐Miktoarm star‐shaped terpolymers based on poly(styrene), poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) by combination of the “living” anionic polymerization with the ring‐opening polymerization

A series of well‐defined ABC 3‐Miktoarm star‐shaped terpolymers [Poly(styrene)‐Poly(ethylene oxide)‐Poly(ε‐caprolactone)](PS‐PEO‐PCL) with different molecular weight was synthesized by combination of the “living” anionic polymerization with the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) using macro‐initiator strategy. Firstly, the “living” poly(styryl)lithium (PS^?Li⁺) species were capped by 1‐ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether(EEGE) quantitatively and the PS‐EEGE with an active and an ethoxyethyl‐protected hydroxyl group at the same end was obtained. Then, using PS‐EEGE and diphenylmethylpotassium (DPMK) as coinitiator, the diblock copolymers of (PS‐b‐PEO)_p with the ethoxyethyl‐protected hydroxyl group at the junction point were achieved by the ROP of EO and the subsequent termination with bromoethane. The diblock copolymers of (PS‐b‐PEO)_d with the active hydroxyl group at the junction point were recovered via the cleavage of ethoxyethyl group on (PS‐b‐PEO)_p by acidolysis and saponification successively. Finally, the copolymers (PS‐b‐PEO)_d served as the macro‐initiator for ROP of ε‐CL in the presence of tin(II)‐bis(2‐ethylhexanoate)(Sn(Oct)₂) and the star(PS‐PEO‐PCL) terpolymers were obtained. The target terpolymers and the intermediates were well characterized by ¹H‐NMR, MALDI‐TOF MS, FTIR, and SEC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1136–1150, 2008     

Preparation of Core‐Sheath Composite Nanofibers by Emulsion Electrospinning

Summary: Uniform core‐sheath nanofibers are prepared by electrospinning a water‐in‐oil emulsion in which the aqueous phase consists of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution in water and the oily phase is a chloroform solution of an amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PEG‐PLA) diblock copolymer. The obtained fibers are composed of a PEO core and a PEG‐PLA sheath with a sharp boundary in between. By adjusting the emulsion composition and the emulsification parameters, the overall fiber size and the relative diameters of the core and the sheath can be changed. A mechanism is proposed to explain the process of transformation from the emulsion to the core‐sheath fibers, i.e., the stretching and evaporation induced de‐emulsification. In principle, this process can be applied to other systems to prepare core‐sheath fibers in place of concentric electrospinning and it is especially suitable for fabricating composite nanofibers that contain water‐soluble drugs.

Schematic mechanism for the formation of core‐sheath composite fibers during emulsion electrospinning.     

Copolymerization of the macromonomer poly(ethylene oxide) with styryl end group and styrene in the presence of poly(ε‐caprolactone) with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy end group by controlled radical mechanism

A copolymerization of macromonomer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with a styryl end group (PEO_S) and styrene was successfully carried out in the presence of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy end group (PCL_T). The resulting copolymer showed a narrower molecular weight distribution and controlled molecular weight. The effect of the molecular weight and concentration of PCL_T and PEO_S on the copolymerization are discussed. The purity of PEO_S exerted a significant effect on the copolymerization; when the diol contents of PEO macromonomer were greater than 1%, the crosslinking product was found. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2093–2099, 2004     

Electrospun poly(aniline‐co‐ethyl 3‐aminobenzoate)/poly(lactic acid) nanofibers and their potential in biomedical applications

Poly(aniline‐co‐ethyl 3‐aminobenzoate) (3EABPANI) copolymer was blended with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and co‐electrospun into nanofibers to investigate its potential in biomedical applications. The relationship between electrospinning parameters and fiber diameter has been investigated. The mechanical and electrical properties of electrospun 3EABPANI‐PLA nanofibers were also evaluated. To assess cell morphology and biocompatibility, nanofibrous mats of pure PLA and 3EABPANI‐PLA were deposited on glass substrates and the proliferation of COS‐1 fibroblast cells on the nanofibrous polymer surfaces determined. The nanofibrous 3EABPANI‐PLA blends were easily fabricated by electrospinning and gave enhanced mammalian cell growth, antioxidant and antimicrobial capabilities, and electrical conductivity. These results suggest that 3EABPANI‐PLA nanofibrous blends might provide a novel bioactive conductive material for biomedical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.