Electrospinning: a fascinating fiber fabrication technique.

Electrospinning is a versatile and viable technique for generating ultrathin fibers. Remarkable progress has been made with regard to the development of electrospinning methods and engineering of electrospun nanofibers to suit or enable various applications. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of electrospinning, including the principle, methods, materials, and applications. We begin with a brief introduction to the early history of electrospinning, followed by discussion of its principle and typical apparatus. We then discuss its renaissance over the past two decades as a powerful technology for the production of nanofibers with diversified compositions, structures, and properties. Afterward, we discuss the applications of electrospun nanofibers, including their use as "smart" mats, filtration membranes, catalytic supports, energy harvesting/conversion/storage components, and photonic and electronic devices, as well as biomedical scaffolds. We highlight the most relevant and recent advances related to the applications of electrospun nanofibers by focusing on the most representative examples. We also offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development. At the end, we discuss approaches to the scale-up production of electrospun nanofibers and briefly discuss various types of commercial products based on electrospun nanofibers that have found widespread use in our everyday life.

Electrospinning and Electrospun Nanofibers: Methods, Materials, and Applications

http://www.mtdna.or.kr/neowiz/board/up_files/files_17/Chitin_Chitosan_polymers_chemistrySolubilityFiberFormation.pdf

Chitin and chitosan polymers: Chemistry, solubility and fiber formation

Antimicrobial properties of chitosan and mode of action: A state of the art review

Application of chitosan, a natural aminopolysaccharide, for dye removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption processes using batch studies: A review of recent literature

Abstract The first successful preparation of chitosan-containing nanofibres was achieved by electrospinning of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend aqueous solutions. The diameters of the nanofibres were in the range 40 - 290 nm and decreased with increasing chitosan content and decreasing total concentration. An increase of the applied field strength leads to an increase of the diameter of the nanofibres and to a broadening of the size distribution. The possibility to prepare nanofibres containing a model drug - potassium 5-nitro-8-quinolinolate (K5N8Q), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antimycotic agent - was shown. The incorporation of K5N8Q in the nanofibres resulted in a decrease of the nanofibre diameters and the appearance of bead-shaped defects. Non-woven mats from the drugloaded nanofibres with composition chitosan : PEO = 1:1 (w/w) and 1% K5N8Q showed antibacterial and antimycotic activity against E. coli, S. aureus and C.albicans.

Preparation of chitosan-containing nanofibres by electrospinning of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) blend solutions

The effect of the electrospinning process parameters on the morphology, alignment, and self-organization of the fibers into bundles and/or yarns are outlined. The fabrication of polylactide materials containing ionic drugs by electrospinning is emphasized. The main approaches used for the preparation of electrospun drug-loaded materials: electrospinning of a mixed solution containing the polymer(s) and the drug(s) or dual spinneret electrospinning of separate drug-containing solutions are compared. The latter approach allows the obtaining of drug-loaded fibrous materials while avoiding the drug interaction. The potential application of the obtained materials containing ionic drugs as wound dressings is outlined.

Polylactide (PLA)-Based Electrospun Fibrous Materials Containing Ionic Drugs as Wound Dressing Materials: A Review

Polylactide Stereocomplex-Based Electrospun Materials Possessing Surface with Antibacterial and Hemostatic Properties

Electrospinning is a promising method for producing polymer materials composed of micro- and nanosized fibers. This method allows the preparation of random and aligned fibers of different morpholog...

Perspectives On: Criteria for Complex Evaluation of the Morphology and Alignment of Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers

Polyelectrolyte complexes between (cross-linked) N-carboxyethylchitosan and (quaternized) poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]: preparation, characterization, and antibacterial properties.

Dilyana Paneva

Papers

Preparation of chitosan-containing nanofibres by electrospinning of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) blend solutions

Polylactide (PLA)-Based Electrospun Fibrous Materials Containing Ionic Drugs as Wound Dressing Materials: A Review

Polylactide Stereocomplex-Based Electrospun Materials Possessing Surface with Antibacterial and Hemostatic Properties

Perspectives On: Criteria for Complex Evaluation of the Morphology and Alignment of Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers

Polyelectrolyte complexes between (cross-linked) N-carboxyethylchitosan and (quaternized) poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]: preparation, characterization, and antibacterial properties.