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Expansion of Two-dimension Electrospun Nanofiber Mats into Three-dimension Scaffolds
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Effect of Solution Composition Variables on Electrospun Alginate Nanofibers: Response Surface Analysis
Janja Mirtič1, Helena Balažic2, Špela Zupančič3
1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. janja.mirtic@ffa.uni-lj.si.
Polymers
|April 19, 2019
Summary
High molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) addition significantly improves alginate electrospinning for drug delivery and tissue engineering scaffolds. Optimized blends yield defined nanofibers with high alginate content.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Alginate is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with potential for drug delivery and tissue engineering.
- Alginate's polyelectrolyte nature hinders its electrospinning process, limiting nanofiber production.
- Developing methods to enhance alginate electrospinning is crucial for its application in advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the electrospinnability of alginate by incorporating high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a co-polymer.
- To optimize the composition of alginate-PEO blends for controlled nanofiber formation and diameter.
- To investigate the influence of PEO molecular weight, polymer concentration, and blend ratio on nanofiber characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of alginate-PEO polymer-blend solutions with varying compositions.
- Rheological characterization (viscosity, complex viscosity, storage and loss moduli) and conductivity measurements.
- Electrospinning of polymer blends and characterization of resulting nanofibers using scanning electron microscopy.
- Optimization using one-parameter-at-a-time approach and response surface methodology (RSM).
Main Results:
- Total polymer concentration and PEO proportion were identified as key factors influencing nanofiber formation and diameter.
- High molecular weight PEO (2-4 million Da) significantly enhanced alginate electrospinnability, enabling nanofibers with over 85% alginate content.
- Optimized blend solutions with appropriate conductivity and viscosity allowed for fine-tuning of nanofiber diameter.
Conclusions:
- Response surface methodology (RSM) is effective for designing alginate-based nanofibers with tailored properties.
- Alginate-PEO blends offer a viable strategy for producing high-alginate content nanofibers for regenerative medicine scaffolds.
- This research provides a pathway for developing efficient scaffold materials for tissue engineering applications.
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