Influence of solvents on the formation of ultrathin uniform poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofibers with electrospinning

Although there have been many reports on the preparation and applications of various polymer nanofibers with the electrospinning technique, the understanding of synthetic parameters in electrospinning remains limited. In this article, we investigate experimentally the influence of solvents on the morphology of the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) micro/nanofibers prepared by electrospinning PVP solution in different solvents, including ethanol, dichloromethane (MC) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). Using 4 wt % PVP solutions, the PVP fibers prepared from MC and DMF solvents had a shape like a bead‐on‐a‐string. In contrast, smooth PVP nanofibers were obtained with ethanol as a solvent although the size distribution of the fibers was somewhat broadened. In an effort to prepare PVP nanofibers with small diameters and narrow size distributions, we developed a strategy of using mixed solvents. The experimental results showed that when the ratio of DMF to ethanol was 50:50 (w/w), regular cylindrical PVP nanofibers with a diameter of 20 nm were successfully prepared. The formation of these thinnest nanofibers could be attributed to the combined effects of ethanol and DMF solvents that optimize the solution viscosity and charge density of the polymer jet. In addition, an interesting helical‐shaped fiber was obtained from 20 wt % PVP solution in a 50:50 (w/w) mixed ethanol/DMF solvent. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3721–3726, 2004     

Preparation and Characterization of Aligned PLLA/PCL/HA Composite Fibrous Membranes

Aligned poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL)/hydroxyapaite (HA) composite fibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties and biocompatibility were investigated. The electrospun fibers are highly aligned and the HA are oriented along the fiber axis. When HA are incorporated, the PLLA/PCL/HA composite fibers become thinner due to the increased conductivity. In addition, the aligned HA reinforce the electrospun fibrous membranes. The larger porosity and higher hydrophilic properties induced by HA in the electrospun fibers have improved the degradation of the PLLA/PCL/HA fibrous membranes which have no toxic effect on proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells.     

Polymorphism Control of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) through Electrospinning

Polymorphism control of PVDF has been realized through electrospinning. PVDF fibrous membranes with fiber diameter in the range of 100 nm to several micrometers were produced by electrospinning and the crystal phase of electrospun PVDF fibers can be adjusted at the same time. Through the control of electrospinning parameters such as the solvent, electrospinning temperature, feeding rate, and tip‐to‐collector distance, PVDF fibrous membranes containing mainly α‐ or β‐ or γ‐phase could be fabricated successfully.

     

Thermal response of a PVCL–HA conjugate

The synthesis and self‐assembling of a thermoresponsive conjugate of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) is reported. Both polymers were end functionalized: HA via reductive amination, thereby introducing an azide endgroup to the chain end, and PVCL via thioetherification to introduce a propargyl group. The two were coupled with a copper assisted “click” reaction into a bioconjugate composed of HA blocks with the molar mass 3,600 g mol^?1 (1618 saccharide units) and PVCL blocks of 3,500 g mol^?1 (～25 repeating units). The cloud point temperature measured by transmittance was 50–51 °C in water. The calorimetrically observed phase transition temperature of PVCL in the conjugate increased by 2 °C to 47.7 °C, whereas the enthalpy of the phase transition was unaffected by the conjugation. HA‐PVCL conjugate self‐assembles in water upon heating into monodisperse, colloidally stable, hollow spherical particles whose size may be tuned with the heating rate of the solution. Slow and fast heating resulted in vesicles with the hydrodynamic radii of 443 or 275 nm, respectively. The heating rate did not, however, affect the cloud point. Salt did not noticeably affect the size of the polymer particles, presumably because of interactions between the HA and PVCL blocks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 425–436     

Electrospinning of ultrafine PVDF/PC fibers from their dispersed solutions

Dispersed solutions of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/polycarbonate (PC) in the mixed solvent of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF)/tetrahydrofuran (THF) were used to electrospin in order to discuss the relationship between the properties of the polymer dispersions and the morphology of the obtained ultrafine fibers. With the changes of the mass ratio of PVDF/PC, the relative molecular mass of PVDF, and the volume ratio of DMF/THF, the morphology and the microstructure of the prepared PVDF/PC ultrafine fibers altered in accord with the viscosity, surface tension, and conductivity of the PVDF/PC dispersions. When the PVDF/PC mass ratio varied from 9/1 to 5/5, the ability of the polymer chain entanglement in PVDF/PC dispersion decreased as to the lower relative molecular mass of PC and higher chain rigidity, which lead to the formation of the beaded fibers together with the distinct core/shell structure. Similar phenomenon was also found when the lower molecular mass of PVDF was used instead of a higher one. Though the change of DMF/THF volume ratio did not specifically contribute to the properties of PVDF/PC dispersions, the accelerated evaporation and solubility of the mixed solvent by the THF amount increasing was feasible to generate the uniform fibrous morphology and the distinct core/shell structure. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 372–380, 2010     

Fabrication and characterization of zein-based nanofibrous scaffolds by an electrospinning method

Electrospun zein membranes were prepared using DMF as solvent. By changing the solution concentration, the electrospinning voltage and the distance between the spinneret and collector, nanofibrous meshes without bead defects could be obtained. In order to improve the mechanical strength of the hydrated zein meshes, core-shell-structured nanofibrous membranes with PCL as the core material and zein forming the shell were prepared by coaxial electrospinning. The core-shell structure of the composite fibers was confirmed by SEM characterization of the fibers, either extracted with chloroform to remove the inner PCL, or elongated to expose their cross-section. The composition and average diameter of the composite fibers could be modulated by the feed rate of the inner PCL solution. It was found that the core-shell fibrous membranes have similar wettability to the electrospun zein mesh. The presence of PCL in the fibers could significantly improve the mechanical properties of the zein membrane.     

Needleless electrospinning of poly(acrylic acid) superabsorbent: Fabrication,characterization and swelling behavior

In this work, nanofibrous hydrogel has been fabricated from needleless electrospinning of Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in an aqueous solution with different concentrations. First, all solution samples were characterized for pH, surface tension, conductivity and viscosity. Next, electrospinnability of the PAA-water dope solution was investigated using the needleless electrospinning technique under constant conditions. Results indicated that the PAA-water solution was not electrospinnable. Therefore, the neutralization of carboxylic groups in the PAA chemical structure using the NaOH solution was investigated to enhance the PAA electrospinnability. Morphology observation revealed that the fiber diameters ranged from 40 to 250 nm and increased with increasing the solution concentrations. Increasing the neutralization degree (10%, 15% and 20% with 50 wt% NaOH solution) led to increase the dope viscosity and conductivity. The resultant nanofibers could be rendered water-insoluble by incorporating 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl-ether in the PAA-water dope solution, then heat-induced crosslinking was performed using a microwave at different curing times (1–5 min) and temperatures (45–105 °C). The nanofibrous hydrogel mat was then characterized by FTIR. The resulting nanofibrous hydrogel showed remarkable water absorption capacity up to 17,000% and 51,000% (within 15 min) in the standard saline solution and distilled water, respectively.     

PEGylation of chitosan for improved solubility and fiber formation via electrospinning

PEG-N-chitosan and PEG-N,O-chitosan were synthesized via reductive amination and acylation of chitosan, respectively. The structures were confirmed by FTIR and H¹NMR. The extents of PEGylation increased with reducing chain lengths of either chitosan (M _v = 137–400 kDa) or poly(ethyelene glycol) (PEG, M _n = 500–2 kDa). Water solubility were easily achieved at degree of substitution (DS) as low as 0.2 for either derivtive whereas the PEG-N,O-chitosan at DS = 1.5 was soluble in organic solvents, including CHCl₃, DMF, DMSO and THF. None of the aqueous solutions of PEG-N-chitosan or PEG-N,O-chitosan alone could be electrospun into fibers. Electrospinning of PEG550-N,O-chitosan145 at 25% in DMF produced fibrous structure intermixed with beads. The efficiency of fiber formation and the uniformity of fibers were improved by increasing the solution viscosity using a cosolvent or reducing the solution surface tensions with a non-ionic surfactant. Ultra-fine fibers with diameters ranging from 40 nm to 360 nm and an average diameter of 162 nm were efficiently generated from electrospinning of 15% PEG550-N,O-chitosan145 in 75/25 (v/v) THF/DMF cosolvents with 0.5% Triton X-100^TM.     

Cellulose Acetate–Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐Based Functional Surfaces with Temperature‐Triggered Switchable Wettability

Temperature‐triggered switchable nanofibrous membranes are successfully fabricated from a mixture of cellulose acetate (CA) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) by employing a single‐step direct electrospinning process. These hybrid CA‐PNIPAM membranes demonstrate the ability to switch between two wetting states viz. superhydrophilic to highly hydrophobic states upon increasing the temperature. At room temperature (23 °C) CA‐PNIPAM nanofibrous membranes exhibit superhydrophilicity, while at elevated temperature (40 °C) the membranes demonstrate hydrophobicity with a static water contact angle greater than 130°. Furthermore, the results here demonstrate that the degree of hydrophobicity of the membranes can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of PNIPAM in the CA‐PNIPAM mixture.

     

Dual-syringe reactive electrospinning of cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel nanofibers for tissue engineering applications

A facile fabrication of a cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel nanofibers by a reactive electrospinning method is described. A thiolated HA derivative, 3,3'-dithiobis(propanoic dihydrazide)-modified HA (HA-DTPH), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) are selected as the cross-linking system. The cross-linking reaction occurs simultaneously during the electrospinning process using a dual-syringe mixing technique. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is added into the spinning solution as a viscosity modifier to facilitate the fiber formation and is selectively removed with water after the electrospinning process. The nanofibrous structure of the electrospun HA scaffold is well preserved after hydration with an average fiber diameter of 110 nm. A cell morphology study on fibronectin (FN)-adsorbed HA nanofibrous scaffolds shows that the NIH 3T3 fibroblasts migrate into the scaffold through the nanofibrous network, and demonstrate an elaborate three-dimensional dendritic morphology within the scaffold, which reflects the dimensions of the electrospun HA nanofibers. These results suggest the application of electrospun HA nanofibrous scaffolds as a potential material for wound healing and tissue regeneration. [image: see text] Laser scanning confocal microscopy demonstrates that the NIH3T3 fibroblast develops an extended 3D dendritic morphology within the fibronectin-adsorbed electrospun HA nanofibrous scaffold.     

Effects of poly(ethylene oxide) and pH on the electrospinning of whey protein isolate

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is known for facilitating the electrospinning of biopolymer solutions, which are otherwise not electrospinnable. The objective of this study was to improve the understanding of the positive effects of PEO on the electrospinning of whey protein isolate (WPI) solutions under different pH conditions. Alterations in protein secondary structure and polymer solution properties (viscosity, conductivity, and dynamic surface tension), as induced by pH changes, significantly affected the electrospinning behavior of WPI/PEO (10% w/w: 0.4% w/w PEO) solutions. Acidic solutions resulted in smooth fibers (707 ± 105 nm) while neutral solutions produced spheres (2.0 ± 1.0 μm) linked with ultrafine fibers (138 ± 32 nm). In comparison, alkaline solutions produced fibers (191 ± 36 nm) that were embedded with spindle‐like beads (1.0 ± 0.5 μm). ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopies showed that the increase in random coil and α‐helix secondary structures in WPI were the main contributors to the formation of bead‐less electrospun fibers. The electrospinning‐enabling properties of PEO on aqueous WPI solutions were attributed to physical chain entanglement between the two polymers, rather than specific polymer–polymer interactions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

High‐Performance Oxygen Sensors Based on EuIII Complex/Polystyrene Composite Nanofibrous Membranes Prepared by Electrospinning

An optical oxygen sensor based on an Eu^III complex/polystyrene (PS) composite nanofibrous membrane is prepared by electrospinning. The emission intensity of [Eu(TTA)₃(phencarz)] (TTA=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate, phencarz=2‐(N‐ethylcarbazolyl‐4)imidazo[4,5‐f]1,10‐phenanthroline) decreases with increasing oxygen concentration, and thus the [Eu(TTA)₃ (phencarz)]/PS composite nanofibrous membranes can be used as an optical oxygen‐sensing material based on emission quenching caused by oxygen. Elemental analysis, UV/Vis absorption spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, luminescence‐intensity quenching Stern–Volmer plots, and excited‐state decay analysis are used to characterize the obtained oxygen‐sensing materials. A high sensitivity (I_N2/I_O2) of 3.38 and short response and recovery times (t_↓=5.0, t_↑=8.0 s) are obtained. These results are the best values reported for oxygen sensors based on Eu^III complexes. The high surface area‐to‐volume ratio and porous structure of the electrospun nanofibrous membranes are taken to be responsible for the outstanding performance.     

Poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate)‐functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes from surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerizations of N‐carboxylanhydride

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been functionalized with poly(γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (PBLG) by ring‐opening polymerizations of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamic acid‐based N‐carboxylanhydrides (NCA‐BLG) using amino‐functionalized SWCNTs (SWCNT‐NH₂) as initiators. The SWCNT functionalization has been verified by FTIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The FTIR study reveals that surface‐attached PBLGs adopt random‐coil conformations in contrast to the physically absorbed or bulk PBLGs, which exhibit α‐helical conformations. Raman spectroscopic analysis reveals a significant alteration of the electronic structure of SWCNTs as a result of PBLG functionalization. The PBLG‐functionalized SWCNTs (SWCNT‐PBLG) exhibit enhanced solubility in DMF. Stable DMF solutions of SWCNT‐PBLG/PBLG with a maximum SWCNTs concentration of 259 mg L^?1 can be readily obtained. SWCNT‐PBLG/PBLG solid composites have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, wide/small‐angle X‐ray scattering (W/SAXS), scanning electron microscopy, and polarized optical microscopy for their thermal or morphological properties. Microfibers containing SWCNT‐PBLG and PBLG can also be prepared via electrospinning. WAXS characterization reveals that SWCNTs are evenly distributed among PBLG rods in solution and in the solid state where PBLGs form a short‐range nematic phase interspersed with amorphous domains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2340–2350, 2010     

Surface methacrylation and graft copolymerization of ultrafine cellulose fibers

Ultrafine fibrous (? from 100 to 450 nm) cellulose membranes were generated by electrospinning of cellulose acetate [degree of substitution (DS): 2.45, weight‐average molecular weight: 30,000 Da], followed by alkaline deacetylation. Reaction of these ultrahigh surface‐area cellulose fibers with methacrylate chloride (MACl) produced activated surfaces without altering the fiber morphology. Surface methacrylation of these fibers was confirmed by the acquired hydrophobicity (θ_water = 84°) as compared to the originally hydrophilic (θ_water = 56°) cellulose. Changing the MACl:OH molar ratios could vary the overall DS of methacrylation. The very low overall DS values indicate the surface nature of the methacrylation reaction. At a DS of 0.17, the thermal properties of the surface methacrylated cellulose resemble those of cellulose derivatives at much higher DS values, an unusual behavior of the ultrafine fibers. The methacrylated cellulose could be further copolymerized with vinyl monomers (methyl methacrylate, acrylamide, and N‐isopropylacrylamide) as linear grafts or three‐dimensional (3D) networks. The morphology of cellulose fibers and the interfiber pore structure were not altered at 15–33% graft levels. This study demonstrates that either linear or 3D networks of vinyl polymers could be efficiently supported on ultrafine cellulose fibrous membranes via surface methacrylation. Through these surface reactions the chemical, thermal, and liquid wetting and absorbent properties of these ultrafine fibrous membranes were significantly altered with no change to the fiber dimensions or interfiber pore morphology. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 953–964, 2003     

Injectable Nanohybrid Scaffold for Biopharmaceuticals Delivery and Soft Tissue Engineering

An injectable nanofibrous hydrogel scaffold integrated with growth factors (GFs) loaded polysaccharide nanoparticles was developed that specifically allows for targeted adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) encapsulation and soft tissue engineering. The nanofibrous hydrogel was produced via biological conjugation of biotin‐terminated star‐shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐Biotin) and streptavidin‐functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA‐Streptavidin). The polysaccharide nanoparticles were noncovalently assembled via electrostatic interactions between low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) and N,N,N‐trimethylchitosan chloride (TMC). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was entrapped in the LMWH/TMC nanoparticles by affinity interactions with LMWH.     

Bicomponent aligned nanofibers of N-carboxyethylchitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Bicomponent nanofibers of N-carboxyethylchitosan (CECh) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were obtained by electrospinning of mixed aqueous solutions. The electrospinning of CECh-containing nanofibers was enabled by the ability of PVA to form an elastically deformable entanglement network based on hydrogen bonds. The average diameters of the bicomponent fibers were in the range 100-420 nm. Water-resistant nanofibrous mats were obtained by thermal crosslinking at 100 °C for 10 h. Nanofibrous materials with 1D-, 1D-transversery or 3D fiber alignment were obtained depending on the type of the collector used.     

Synergistic Properties of Arabinogalactan (AG) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Sodium Salt Mixtures

The properties of mixtures of two polysaccharides, arabinogalactan (AG) and hyaluronic acid (HA), were investigated in solution by the measurement of diffusion coefficients D of water protons by DOSY (Diffusion Ordered SpectroscopY), by the determination of viscosity and by the investigation of the affinity of a small molecule molecular probe versus AG/HA mixtures in the presence of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) by ¹HNMR spectroscopy. Enhanced mucoadhesive properties, decreased mobility of water and decreased viscosity were observed at the increase of AG/HA ratio and of total concentration of AG. This unusual combination of properties can lead to more effective and long-lasting hydration of certain tissues (inflamed skin, dry eye corneal surface, etc.) and can be useful in the preparation of new formulations of cosmetics and of drug release systems, with the advantage of reducing the viscosity of the solutions.     

Interactions between metal chlorides and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in concentrated solutionsand solid‐state films

The rheological behavior of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions containing metal chlorides (LiCl, CaCl₂, and CoCl₂) were investigated, and the results showed that the nature of the metal ions and their concentration had an obvious effect on the steady‐state rheological behavior of PVP–DMF solutions with different molecular weights. The apparent viscosity of the PVP–DMF solutions increased with an increasing metal‐ion concentration, and the viscosity increment was dependent on the metal‐ion variety_. For a CaCl₂‐containing PVP–DMF solution, for example, the critical shear rate at the onset of shear thinning became smaller with increasing CaCl₂ concentration. It was believed that multiple interactions among metal ions, carbonyl groups of PVP, and amide groups in DMF determined the solution properties of these complex fluids; therefore, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was used to detect the interactions in systems of PVP–CaCl₂–DMF and PVP–LiCl–DMF solutions. NMR data showed that there were obvious interactions between the metal ions and the carbonyl groups of the PVP segments in the DMF solutions. Furthermore, IR spectra of the PVP/metal chloride composites demonstrated that the interaction between the metal ions and carbonyl groups in the PVP unit occurred and that the PVP chain underwent conformational variations with the metal‐ion concentration. DSC results indicated that the glass transition temperatures of the PVP/metal chloride composites increased with the addition of metal ions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1589–1598, 2007     

Controlling electrospun nanofiber morphology and mechanical properties using humidity

Electrospinning is a fiber spinning technique used to produce nanoscale polymeric fibers with superior interconnectivity and specific surface area. The fiber diameter, surface morphology, and mechanical strength are important properties of electrospun fibers that can be tuned for diverse applications. In this study, the authors investigate how the humidity during electrospinning influences these specific properties of the fiber mat. Using two previously uninvestigated polymers, poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) and polysulfone (PSU) dissolved in N,N‐Dimethylformamide (DMF), experimental results show that increasing humidity during spinning causes an increase in fiber diameter and a decrease in mechanical strength. Moreover, surface features such as roughness or pores become evident when electrospinning in an atmosphere with high relative humidity (RH). However, PAN and PSU fibers are affected differently. PAN has a narrower distribution of fiber diameter regardless of the RH, whereas PSU has a wider and more bimodal distribution under high RH. In addition, PSU fibers spun at high humidity exhibit surface pores and higher specific surface area whereas PAN fibers exhibit an increased surface roughness but no visible pores. These fiber morphologies are caused by a complex interaction between the nonsolvent (water), the hygroscopic solvent (DMF), and the polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Mechanical behavior of electrospun fiber mats of poly(vinyl chloride)/polyurethane polyblends

Various polyblends of poly(vinyl chloride) and polyurethane (PU) dissolved in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and N,N‐dimethylformamide were produced by electrospinning, in different ratios, with several electrospinning conditions, and the relationship between morphology and mechanical behavior of the resulting fiber mats was examined in detail. The surface tension, viscosity, and electrical conductivity of polymer solutions affecting electrospinning were measured, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with a universal testing machine were used to examine the family of polyblends under investigation. The SEM images demonstrated that point‐bonded structures in the fiber mats rose with increasing PU composition, and the mechanical properties of the fiber mats, as determined in a static tensile test, can be considered to have a strong effect by the point‐bonded structure. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1256–1262, 2003