Electrospinning is a unique and versatile technique for the fabrication of nanofibers that mimics the native extracellular matrix for tissue engineering.In this paper, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) has been electrospun. Selected parameters of spinning solutions (viscosity, conductivity and surfacetension) and process parameters (applied voltage, needle-to-collector distance and collector type) were studied. The formation of nanofibers was found to depend absolutely on the right combination of voltage and distance. HEC concentration was varied from 0.25 to 2.0 % (w/w) and various additives - Tween 80, sodium chloride and organic solvents - were tested. SEM micrographs showed that HEC nanofibers with large numbers of beads could be reduced by addition of Tween 80 and sodium chloride. Addition of organic solvents did not improve nanofiber formation. It was shown that the key solution properties influencing nanofiber morphology were the polymer concentration, the viscosity and surface tension of its solution. Additionally, there are no methods or procedures for electrospinning that are universally applicable. Each polymer needs to be studied individually and the respective electrospinning conditions determined experimentally. Understanding the process and solution properties influencing the electrospun fibers is helpful in the design of tissue scaffolds. HEC nanofibers could offer advantages in the development of modern wound dressings.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3033969
In the present study, chitosan was chosen as an excellent material for tissue scaffold and wound dressing design due to its versatile ability to stimulate the immune system, promote cellular growth, and control bacterial growth. Different mass ratio of blended solutions of 3% (w/w) chitosan in 2% (w/w) acetic acid and 3% (w/w) poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in distilled water were used to produce nanofibers by electrospinning method. Effects of solution and process parameters were studied. Results revealed that addition of PEO is necessary to enable spinnability of polymer solution. Increasing the PEO amount in solutions resulted in lower viscosities and changes in rheological properties, better solution spinnability, fibrous morphology of obtained nanofibers and larger fibre diameter. Meanwhile, increased voltage resulted inthinner nanofibers with elongated beads. Such nanofibers offer advantageous selection for different biomedical field.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3087985