Nanocomposite alginate-based electrospun membranes as novel adsorbent systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Alginate-based materials are explored for various applications due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.
• Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) offer unique functionalities, including antimicrobial and catalytic activities.
• Developing efficient biosorbent materials is crucial for environmental remediation and advanced drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize alginate-based membranes embedded with zinc oxide nanoparticles using electrospinning.
• To evaluate the potential of these membranes as biosorbents for removing Methylene Blue (MB) and Congo Red (CR) dyes.
• To investigate the reusability and drug release characteristics of the developed membranes.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of alginate and zinc oxide nanoparticles to form nanofibrous membranes.
• Characterization of membrane morphology, including nanofiber diameter and pore size.
• UV-vis spectrophotometry to assess dye adsorption and desorption kinetics and isotherms.
• Fitting experimental data to theoretical models (e.g., isotherm kinetics) to understand adsorption mechanisms.
• Evaluation of membrane reusability and dye release under different conditions.

Main Results:

• Uniform nanofibrous membranes with average fiber diameter of 100 nm and pore size of 140 nm were successfully prepared.
• The membranes demonstrated comparable adsorption capacity for both Methylene Blue (basic dye) and Congo Red (acidic dye) at low concentrations.
• High reusability was observed for Methylene Blue after washing, with efficient desorption under physiological-like conditions.
• Desorption of Congo Red was reduced, indicating the influence of ionic interactions on the release process.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun alginate-ZnO NP membranes are effective and reusable biosorbents for dye removal.
• The macroporous structure influences the adsorption process, showing limited selectivity.
• The membranes exhibit potential as versatile platforms for purification processes and drug delivery applications.
• The differential release behavior suggests tunable interactions for controlled substance delivery.