CaO-loaded cellulose acetate electrospun composite fibers: morphological, structural, and functional evaluation for...

This study presents a novel and sustainable approach for the fabrication of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA)/calcium oxide (CaO) composite fibers by utilizing bioactive CaO nanoparticles derived from calcined waste eggshells as an eco-friendly inorganic filler for advanced biomedical applications. CA/CaO composite solutions were prepared by mixing CaO powder of various proportions into a 10% CA solution and processed via electrospinning to produce composite fibers. The findings confirm the successful transformation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) into CaO through thermal calcination process. CaO particles were successfully incorporated into the fibers, with the median fiber diameter decreasing after CaO incorporation. Among the investigated samples, the CA/CaO composite fibers containing 2-6 wt% CaO showed the most favorable properties, providing a balance between fiber diameter, morphology, controlled and gradual calcium release in prepared phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and chemical stability in prepared simulated body fluid solution (SPF).The hydrophilicity and water spreading behavior were improved by the incorporation of CaO particles, as evidenced by the reduction in the contact angle to 60° compared with 81° for pure CA fibers. These results highlight an emerging method for producing novel biodegradable CA/CaO polymer composites with adjustable properties and enhanced hydrophilicity, providing a basis for future investigations of their suitability for biomedical applications.