Electrospinning: a fascinating fiber fabrication technique.

Nanofibrous filtering media: Filtration problems and solutions from tiny materials

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Effect of electrospinning parameters on the nanofiber diameter and length

Electrospinning is a fast emerging technique for producing ultrafine fibers by utilizing electrostatic repulsive forces. The technique has gathered much attention due to the emergence of nanotechnology that sparked worldwide research interest in nanomaterials for their preparation and application in biomedicine and drug delivery. Electrospinning is a simple, adaptable, cost-effective, and versatile technique for producing nanofibers. For effective and efficient use of the technique, several processing parameters need to be optimized for fabricating polymeric nanofibers. The nanofiber morphology, size, porosity, surface area, and topography can be refined by varying these parameters. Such flexibility and diversity in nanofiber fabrication by electrospinning has broadened the horizons for widespread application of nanofibers in the areas of drug and gene delivery, wound dressing, and tissue engineering. Drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers have been used in implants, transdermal systems, wound dressings, and as devices for aiding the prevention of postsurgical abdominal adhesions and infection. They show great promise for use in drug delivery provided that one can confidently control the processing variables during fabrication. This paper provides a concise incursion into the application of electrospun nanofibers in drug delivery and cites pertinent processing parameters that may influence the performance of the nanofibers when applied to drug delivery.

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A Review of the Effect of Processing Variables on the Fabrication of Electrospun Nanofibers for Drug Delivery Applications

In modern society, traffic and transportation and the manufacturing industry and construction industries continuously release large amounts of dust and particles into the atmosphere, which can cause heavy air pollution, leading to health hazards. The haze disaster, a serious problem in developing countries such as China and India, has become one of the main issues of global environmental pollution in recent decades. Many air filtration technologies have been developed. Air filtration using electrospun fibers that intercept fine particles/volatile organic gases/bacterium is a relatively new, but highly promising, technique. Due to their interconnected nanoscale pore structures, highly specific surface areas, fine diameters, and porous structure as well as their ability to incorporate active chemistry on a nanoscale surface, electrospun fibers are becoming a promising versatile platform for air filtration. In this review, following a short introduction concerning the need for air filtration and filtration theory and mechanism, electrospun nanofibers membranes for air filtration have been highlighted, including the preparation (electrospinning process) and the parameters relevant to filtration efficacy. Additionally, various types (function) of the electrospun air filtration membranes have been classified in detail. Furthermore, their potential in the filtration of fine particles and chemical pollutants has been discussed. Finally, the challenges of their practical application and the future prospects have been summarized. Given that some advanced electrospun air filtration nanofibrous membranes exist for treating different contaminants from various types of polluted atmosphere, it is believed that they should make a significant contribution in protection against air pollution.

Electrospun Nanofibers Membranes for Effective Air Filtration

Development of high efficiency nanofilters made of nanofibers

Acute otitis media-induced petrous apicitis presenting as the Gradenigo syndrome: successfully treated by ventilation tube insertion.

On prenatal ultrasonogram, a fetus was found to have a protruding mass in the oral cavity. Postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the mass to have 2 components: a main portion exhibiting isointensity on T1- and T2-weighted images with mild contrast enhancement and a contrast-enhancing rim showing T1 isointensity and T2 hyperintensity. Histologic examination revealed a congenital granular cell tumor with prominent peripheral vessels.

Congenital epulis: prenatal ultrasonographic and postnatal MR features with pathologic correlation.

Infants who are born prematurely or with low birth weight should be immunized at the same postnatal chronologic age. They should receive BCG, DTaP, IPV vaccines according to the same recommended schedule as full term infants. Hepatitis B vaccine schedule is modified when hepatitis B vaccine is administered a infant with birth weight less than 2,000 g. The recommended standard dose of each vaccine should be administered. Proportion of children experiencing vaccine-related adverse events dose not differ between full-term and preterm infants. Immunization with routinely recommended childhood vaccines is safe for preterm and low birth weight infants.

Su-Eun Park

Papers

Development of high efficiency nanofilters made of nanofibers

Acute otitis media-induced petrous apicitis presenting as the Gradenigo syndrome: successfully treated by ventilation tube insertion.

Congenital epulis: prenatal ultrasonographic and postnatal MR features with pathologic correlation.

Immunization of preterm and low birth weight infant

Ferroelectric relaxor properties of (1 − x)K0.5Na0.5NbO3–xBa0.5Ca0.5TiO3 ceramics