Characterizing optimum electrospinning conditions for graft urethanized Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)(U-PVA)

Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a water-soluble polymer that has been widely used in medical and pharmaceutical applications. For this study, we grafted urea to PVA to enhance its wettability and solubility in water. We used a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to characterize the electrospun graft urethanized poly(vinyl alcohol) U-PVA and determine the best electrospinning conditions. The capillary–collector distance, applied voltage, and flow rate all had notable effects on fiber diameter and morphology. When we increased the capillary–collector distance to 20 cm and set the applied voltage to 25 kV, the fiber diameter and bead formation decreased, while decreasing the flow rate to 1 mL/h resulted in a homogeneous fibrous structure with an average fiber diameter equal to 159 ± 59.3 nm. We compared the wettabilities, Fourier transform infra-red FTIR spectra and insulin drug release of graft U-PVA and pure PVA electrospun specimens. Grafting urea to PVA enhanced its wettability, and drug release rate with time; indicating the effectiveness of graft U-PVA as a drug delivery system with high drug-release rates.