Abstract
AbstractThis short communication describes the design and assembly of a new, miniaturized electrospinner to produce nanofibers at the site of need for drug delivery and wound dressing applications. The portable apparatus would eliminate the storage and transportation concerns with regards to the delicate nature of drug‐loaded nanofibers, thereby preserving product integrity at the site of use. Furthermore, the setup features a smaller size, a cheaper price, and components that are readily obtainable off‐the‐shelf, compared to those of available devices that are custom‐built and more expensive, making it desirable and accessible for other users in the field. As a proof‐of‐concept for wound care, the device is successfully used to electrospin three types of nanofibers comprised of pure cellulose acetate (CA), and CA respectively doped with 0.75 and 1.5 wt% silver nanoparticles. The miniaturized device is useful on account of the popularity of electrospinning as well as the potential to minimize wound infection due to the reduced manipulation of both the dressing and the wound from product generation to the point of need. Work is in progress to further develop the portable device and compare its product performance with traditional wound dressing materials for clinical translation.
Highlights
Useful on account of the popularity of electrospinning as well as the potential to minimize wound infection due to the reduced manipulation of both the dressing and the wound from product generation to the point of need
As a proof of concept for point-of-need wound care, we use the device to electrospin three types of nanofibers comprised of pure cellulose acetate (CA), and CA loaded with 0.75 and 1.5 wt% silver nanoparticles (AgNP), respectively
X-ray diffraction (XRD) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed and quantified the AgNP loading in the CA nanofibers
Summary
Surface tension was measured using a Kruss Tensiometer K9 (Hamburg, Germany) by Standard Wilhelmy’s plate method. Electrical conductivity was measured using Jenway 3540 pH/ conductivity meter (Bibby Scientific, Staffordshire, UK). Viscosity was determined using a digital rotational viscometer, Brookfield DV-111 (Harlow, Essex, UK). All procedures were repeated five times and the mean value of the readings recorded. The calibrated equipment was cleaned with distilled water and dried before each measurement. The viscometer was calibrated automatically by following prompts to run running a complete cycle without the spindle in place. The tensiometer was calibrated by taking the surface tension of distilled water at ambient temperature. Conductivity was calibrated by immersing the probe in conductivity standard solution (Bibby Scientific, Staffordshire, UK) and the meter adjusted until a reading of 0.1194 S m−1 at 22 °C was obtained
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