A comprehensive review summarizing the effect of electrospinning parameters and potential applications of nanofibers in biomedical and biotechnology

Electrospinning of food proteins and polysaccharides

Electrospinning is an economical and relatively simple method to produce continuous and uniform nanofibers from almost any synthetic and many natural polymers. Because of the high specific surface area, tunable pore size, and flexibility, the nanofibrous membranes are finding an increasingly wide range of applications. Some particular attention has been devoted to antibacterial nanofibers for applications such as wound dressings. A variety of biocides, e.g., antibiotics, quaternary ammonium salts, triclosan, biguanides, (silver, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide) nanoparticles and chitosan have been incorporated by various techniques into nanofibers that exhibit strong antibacterial activity in standard assays. However, the small diameters of the nanofibers also mean that the incorporated biocides are often burst released once the materials are submerged in an aqueous solution. Nevertheless, several strategies, such as core-sheath structure of the nanofiber, covalent bonding of the biocide on the fiber surface and adsorption of the biocide in nanostructures, can be utilized to sustain the release over several days. This review summarizes recent development in the fabrication of antibacterial nanofibers, the release profiles of the biocides and their applications in in vivo systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40797.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/app.40797

Electrospun antibacterial nanofibers: Production, activity, and in vivo applications

Electrospinning has gained greater consideration in nanotechnology due to its flexible and superior processing technique. It is considered a unique method to produce nanofibers from polymeric, ceramic, and carbonaceous materials. The greater attraction of electrospinning can be ascribed to the following reasons viz., the diameter of the electrospun nanofibers can be controlled in ease, continuity in fiber and capability to produce three-dimensional (3D) fibrous structures. Hence, electrospinning is gaining more interest among the researchers targeting diverse fields of application such as wound dressing, drug delivery and filtration etc. A large number of review articles are available in these areas. However, the application of electrospun nanofibers in food packaging field is still in its infancy. This comprehensive review mainly focuses on the application of electrospun nanofibers for food and packaging applications. A detailed insight on the electrospinning of food proteins and carbohydrates is enumerated. The recent developments and challenges in electrospinning for food and smart packaging applications were also discussed.

A comprehensive review of electrospun nanofibers: Food and packaging perspective

Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/silver nanoparticle composite fibers were prepared via electrospinning using N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent. Rheology, morphology, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites were characterized as a function of material composition. The PVP/CNC/Ag electrospun suspensions exhibited higher conductivity and better rheological properties compared with those of the pure PVP solution. The average diameter of the PVP electrospun fibers decreased with the increase in the amount of CNCs and Ag nanoparticles. Thermal stability of electrospun composite fibers was decreased with the addition of CNCs. The CNCs help increase the composite tensile strength, while the elongation at break decreased. The composite fibers included Ag nanoparticles showed improved antimicrobial activity against both the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The enhanced strength and antimicrobial performances of PVP/CNC/Ag electrospun composite fibers make the mat material an attractive candidate for application in the biomedical field.

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/9/7/523/pdf/1

Preparation and Properties of Electrospun Poly (Vinyl Pyrrolidone)/Cellulose Nanocrystal/Silver Nanoparticle Composite Fibers.

Functionalization of electrospun β-cyclodextrin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with silver nanoparticles: Broad-spectrum antibacterial property

The preparation of silver nanoparticles/carbon nanofibers as catalyst in the styrene epoxidation

Ag nanoparticle-embedded one-dimensional β-CD (β-cyclodextrin)/PVP composite nanofibers were prepared using a one-step electrospinning technique Ag nanoparticles were obtained in the AgNO3/β-CD/DMF solution, in which silver nitrate been introduced as the precursor, DMF as solvent, β-CD as reducing and capping agent After electrospinning of the composite solution at room temperature, the β-CD/PVP nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles were obtained The electrospun composite solution containning Ag nsnopsrticles were confirmed by UV-visible absorption spectra; the resulting composite nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy , transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction Ag-β-CD/PVP nanofiber exhibits good antibacterial property for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Consequently, we propose that these Ag nanoparticle-embedded 1D-nanostructures prepared via electrospinning may be used as antibacterial material

Ag nanoparticle-embedded one-dimensional β-CD/PVP composite nanofibers prepared via electrospinning for use in antibacterial material

Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers were fabricated by colloidal sol process, electrospinning, and calcination technique. Calcination of the electrospun nanofibers were heat treated at 600°C for 180 minutes in air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited that the anatase phase and silver coexisted in the resulted Ag NPs/TiO2 nanofibers; transmission electron microscopy demonstrated Ag NPs well spread in the porous microstructure of composite fibers. The prepared nanofibers were utilized as photocatalyst for degradation of methyl orange. The degradation rate of methyl orange dye solution containing Ag/TiO2 composite nanofibers is 99% only after irradiation for 3 hours. It is proposed that these new Ag NPs/TiO2 composite nanofibers will have potential application in water pollution treatment.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Properties of Ag/TiO2 Composite Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning

Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by a new route which included chemical reaction process, electrospinning and calcination technique. The morphology and structure of the composite nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It indicated that Ag NPs were uniformly distributed in the CNFs. This effective synthesis method can be used to prepare other composite nanofibers with functionality. The Ag NPs/CNFs that served as supported catalysts were used in the styrene epoxidation by TBHP. The Ag NPs/CNFs catalyst showed its highly catalytic activity for the epoxidation of styrene (conversion: 40.6%, SO selectivity: 35.9%). This kind of composite nanofiber membrane was proved effectively catalytic activity and recycled easily in the styrene epoxidation.

Shan Wang

Papers

Functionalization of electrospun β-cyclodextrin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with silver nanoparticles: Broad-spectrum antibacterial property

The preparation of silver nanoparticles/carbon nanofibers as catalyst in the styrene epoxidation

Ag nanoparticle-embedded one-dimensional β-CD/PVP composite nanofibers prepared via electrospinning for use in antibacterial material

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Properties of Ag/TiO2 Composite Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning

Preparation and characterization of silver nanoparticles/carbon nanofibers via electrospinning with research on their catalytic properties