Electrospinning of Cyclodextrin Nanofibers: The Effect of Process Parameters

Fuat Topuz,Tamer Uyar

doi:10.1155/2020/7529306

Abstract

Cyclodextrin (CD) nanofibers have recently emerged as high-performance materials owing to their large surface area-to-volume ratio, along with the presence of high active CD content for their applications in drug delivery and water treatment. Even though there are several studies on the polymer-free electrospinning of CD molecules of different types, the effects of electrospinning process parameters on the morphology and diameter of the resultant fibers have not addressed yet. In this study, the influence of electrospinning process variables on the morphology and diameter of the resultant CD nanofibers is systematically studied using two different solvent systems, i.e., water and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). On adjusting the electrospinning process parameters (i.e., electrical field, flow rate, tip-to-collector distance (TCD), and needle diameter), uniform CD nanofibers could be produced from aqueous and DMF solutions. Generally, the electrospinning of thicker fibers was observed by increasing the applied voltage and flow rate due to higher mass flow. Increasing TCD boosted the fiber diameter. Likewise, the use of needles with larger diameters resulted in the electrospinning of thicker fibers from DMF solutions, which might be attributed to higher viscosity due to reduced shear rate.

Highlights

Electrospinning is a fiber spinning technology that relies on the exposure of a viscoelastic solution to a high-voltage electrostatic field to produce a single charged jet and its deposition on a grounded collector in the form of nonwoven material with nanofibers from micrometer down to nanometer diameters (Figure 1(a)) [1]
In this paper, we conducted a systematical study on the influence of electrospinning process parameters (i.e., electrical field, flow rate, tip-to-collector distance (TCD), and needle diameter) on the morphology and diameter of the CD fibers electrospun from their aqueous and organic (i.e., N, N-dimethylformamide) solutions
Even though a higher concentration was used for the water-based electrospinning, the mean diameter of the resultant fibers was much lower than the fibers produced from DMF solutions

Summary

Introduction

Electrospinning is a fiber spinning technology that relies on the exposure of a viscoelastic solution to a high-voltage electrostatic field to produce a single charged jet and its deposition on a grounded collector in the form of nonwoven material with nanofibers from micrometer down to nanometer diameters (Figure 1(a)) [1]. Haider et al compiled a comprehensive review on the effects of electrospinning parameters on the morphology and diameter of the resultant fibers [2] In this regard, both solution properties (e.g., viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension) and electrospinning process parameters, such as electrical field, flow rate, tip-tocollector distance (TCD), and needle diameter, affect the fiber properties, the morphology, diameter, and size distribution. These fibers showed an increase in the fiber diameter at high TCD due to reduced electrostatic strength that led to lower jet stretching Another critical electrospinning process parameter is the flow rate. In this paper, we conducted a systematical study on the influence of electrospinning process parameters (i.e., electrical field, flow rate, tip-to-collector distance (TCD), and needle diameter) on the morphology and diameter of the CD fibers electrospun from their aqueous and organic (i.e., N, N-dimethylformamide) solutions

Experimental Section

Results and Discussion

Conclusion