Core-shell structured PEO-chitosan nanofibers by coaxial electrospinning

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Core-shell nanofibers offer unique properties for advanced applications.
• Chitosan is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with diverse functionalities.
• Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating nanofibers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate core-shell structured polyethylene oxide (PEO)-chitosan nanofibers.
• To characterize the nanostructure, composition, and morphology of the fabricated nanofibers.
• To explore the potential applications of these core-shell nanofibers.

Main Methods:

• Coaxial electrospinning using PEO as the core and chitosan as the shell.
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for nanostructure analysis.
• X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for surface composition.
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for material composition.
• Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for compositional homogeneity.
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for thermal and crystalline properties.

Main Results:

• Uniform-sized, defect-free core-shell nanofibers (150-190 nm diameter) were produced.
• Hollow nanofibers were obtained after washing out the PEO core.
• Chitosan presence on the shell was confirmed by TEM, XPS, and FTIR.
• TGA confirmed chitosan and PEO composition matched feed solutions.
• DSC and XRD provided insights into the crystalline structure and morphology.

Conclusions:

• Coaxial electrospinning is effective for producing PEO-chitosan core-shell nanofibers.
• The fabricated nanofibers, both solid and hollow, possess chitosan on their surface.
• These core-shell nanofibers exhibit potential for diverse applications due to their unique structure and surface chemistry.