Effect of solution composition variables on electrospun alginate nanofibers : response surface analysis

Mirtič, Janja (author), Balažic, Helena (author), Zupančič, Špela (author), Kristl, Julijana (author)

Alginate is a promising biocompatible and biodegradable polymer for production of nanofibers for drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, alginate is difficult to electrospin due to its polyelectrolyte nature. The aim was to improve the 'electrospinability' of alginate with addition of exceptionally high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a co-polymer. The compositions of the polymer-blend solutions for electrospinning were varied for PEO molecular weight, total (alginate plus PEO) polymer concentration, and PEO proportion in the dry alginate PEO polymer mix used. These were tested for rheology (viscosity, complex viscosity, storage and loss moduli) and conductivity, and the electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. One-parameter-at-a-time approach and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the polymer-blend solution composition to obtain defined nanofibers. Both approaches revealed that the major influence on nanofiber formation and diameter were total polymer concentration and PEO proportion. These polymer-blend solutions of appropriate conductivity and viscosity enabled fine-tuning of nanofiber diameter. PEO molecular weight of 2-4 million Da greatly improved the electrospinnability of alginate, producing nanofibers with >85% alginate. This study shows that RSM can be used to design nanofibers with optimal alginate and co-polymer contents to provide efficient scaffold material for regenerative medicine.

• Language: English
• Keywords: nanofibers, electrospinning, alginate, polyethylene oxide, conductivity, viscoelastic properties, response surface methodology
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 20 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 4, art. 692
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-125361
• UDC: 66.017-022.513.2:620.3
• ISSN on article: 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym11040692
• COBISS.SI-ID: 4704625
• Publication date in RUL: 12.03.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Polymers
• Shortened title: Polymers
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4360
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517951257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.03.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nanovlakna, elektrospiniranje, alginat, polietilen oksid, prevodnost, viskoelastične lastnosti, metodologija odzivne površine