Publicação
From experimental implementation to validation of natural-based electrospun solutions
| Resumo: | Electrospinning is a straightforward and versatile technology for producing fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to hundredths of nanometers. It applies a strong electric field to charge a polymer solution contained within a syringe. This study focused on the assembly, implementation, and validation of an electrospinning equipment. Also, it was validated by testing a conventional synthetic polymer, polyethylene-oxide (PEO). Finally, mats using chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as natural polymers were prepared with PEO used as a co-spinner. Solutions comprising various proportions of PEO/CS (40/60, 50/50, 60/40, and 70/30) and PEO/CS/HA (HA 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) exhibited the highest conductivity values (between 1306 and 1885 μS/cm) using acetic acid (AA) (50% w/w). The electrospun mats from these blends displayed superior uniformity compared to other films, with mean diameters ranging from 0.204 ± 0.046 μm to 0.282 ± 0.064 μm. Increasing the applied voltage in neat PEO solutions led to a decrease in fiber diameter from 0.540 ± 0.172 μm (10 kV film) to 0.362 ± 0.130 μm (16 kV film). However, all neat PEO electrospun mats showed beads and non-uniformities, mainly due to the presence of distilled water (DW) as a solvent. DW also increased viscosity and reduced conductivity in PEO/HA blends compared to AA equivalents. PEO/HA (DW) solutions formed films of particles instead of fibers. PEO/HA (AA) mats exhibited average fiber diameters ranging from 0.311 ± 0.071 μm to 0.381 ± 0.094 μm, with lower levels of uniformity. All produced mats exhibited a high hydrophilicity, with PEO/CS mats demonstrating the highest contact angle (31° after 60 seconds; PEO/CS_30/70_AA). The addition of HA in PEO/CS_50/50_AA increased hydrophilicity. Interestingly, in the PEO/CS/HA mats, higher HA concentrations led to increased contact angles (18.10°, 22.50°, and 24.57° for 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% HA, respectively), suggesting the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes between NH3+ (CS) and COO− (HA). The MTT assay results show no cytotoxicity in the PEO/CS and PEO/CS/HA electrospun mats. Cell viability for groups exposed to these mats exceeded 74.23%, highlighting the inherent biocompatibility of CS and HA. Overall, this study underscores the potential of CS and HA nanofibers for biomedical applications, alongside the successful implementation of the equipment. |
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| Autores principais: | Cenci, Giovana Baptista |
| Assunto: | Equipment implementation Electrospinning Electrospun mats Natural-based nanofibers Health applications |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso restrito |
| Instituição associada: | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Biblioteca Digital do IPB |
| Resumo: | Electrospinning is a straightforward and versatile technology for producing fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to hundredths of nanometers. It applies a strong electric field to charge a polymer solution contained within a syringe. This study focused on the assembly, implementation, and validation of an electrospinning equipment. Also, it was validated by testing a conventional synthetic polymer, polyethylene-oxide (PEO). Finally, mats using chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as natural polymers were prepared with PEO used as a co-spinner. Solutions comprising various proportions of PEO/CS (40/60, 50/50, 60/40, and 70/30) and PEO/CS/HA (HA 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) exhibited the highest conductivity values (between 1306 and 1885 μS/cm) using acetic acid (AA) (50% w/w). The electrospun mats from these blends displayed superior uniformity compared to other films, with mean diameters ranging from 0.204 ± 0.046 μm to 0.282 ± 0.064 μm. Increasing the applied voltage in neat PEO solutions led to a decrease in fiber diameter from 0.540 ± 0.172 μm (10 kV film) to 0.362 ± 0.130 μm (16 kV film). However, all neat PEO electrospun mats showed beads and non-uniformities, mainly due to the presence of distilled water (DW) as a solvent. DW also increased viscosity and reduced conductivity in PEO/HA blends compared to AA equivalents. PEO/HA (DW) solutions formed films of particles instead of fibers. PEO/HA (AA) mats exhibited average fiber diameters ranging from 0.311 ± 0.071 μm to 0.381 ± 0.094 μm, with lower levels of uniformity. All produced mats exhibited a high hydrophilicity, with PEO/CS mats demonstrating the highest contact angle (31° after 60 seconds; PEO/CS_30/70_AA). The addition of HA in PEO/CS_50/50_AA increased hydrophilicity. Interestingly, in the PEO/CS/HA mats, higher HA concentrations led to increased contact angles (18.10°, 22.50°, and 24.57° for 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% HA, respectively), suggesting the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes between NH3+ (CS) and COO− (HA). The MTT assay results show no cytotoxicity in the PEO/CS and PEO/CS/HA electrospun mats. Cell viability for groups exposed to these mats exceeded 74.23%, highlighting the inherent biocompatibility of CS and HA. Overall, this study underscores the potential of CS and HA nanofibers for biomedical applications, alongside the successful implementation of the equipment. |
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