Novel Electrospun Pullulan Fibers Incorporating Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin: Morphology and Relation with...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Biocompatible, biodegradable natural polymers are crucial for drug delivery and biomedical uses.
• Electrospinning produces submicron fibers with unique functionalities for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create multi-functional electrospun fibers from pullulan and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD).
• To investigate the impact of HP-β-CD on pullulan's electrospinnability and fiber morphology.
• To explore a water-based system excluding synthetic polymers.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of pullulan/HP-β-CD mixtures using water as the sole solvent.
• Rheological characterization to determine pullulan entanglement concentration (C_E).
• Analysis of fiber morphology and diameter using scanning electron microscopy (implied).
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) for material analysis.

Main Results:

• HP-β-CD facilitated electrospinning of continuous, beadless fibers (853-1019 nm diameter) at lower polymer concentrations.
• Neat pullulan required higher concentrations (~20% w/v) for bead-free nanofibers.
• HP-β-CD appeared to assist pullulan entanglement, potentially acting as a crosslinker, improving electrospinnability.
• The exact association mechanism between pullulan and HP-β-CD requires further clarification.

Conclusions:

• Blending pullulan with HP-β-CD creates a versatile platform for encapsulation applications.
• This natural polymer blend enhances electrospinning efficiency for biomedical fiber production.
• The findings support the development of novel drug delivery systems using sustainable materials.