Solution‐Spinning of a Collection of Micro‐ and Nanocarrier‐Functionalized Polysaccharide Fibers

Abstract

AbstractContinuous polysaccharide fibers and nonwovens—based on cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, chitosan, or alginate—containing biopolymeric microcapsules (MC) or mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are prepared using a wet‐spinning or solution blowing technique. The MCs are homogeneously distributed in the fiber matrices whereas the MSNs form discrete micron‐sized aggregates as demonstrated using scanning electron‐, fluorescence‐, and confocal microscopy. By encapsulating the model compound pyrene, it is shown that 95% of the substance remains in the fiber during the formation process as compared to only 7% for the nonencapsulated substance. The material comprising the MC has a strong impact on the release behavior of the encapsulated pyrene as investigated using methanol extraction. MCs based on poly(l‐lactic acid) prove to be practically impermeable with no pyrene released in contrast to MCs based on poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) which allow for diffusion of pyrene through the MC and fiber as visualized using fluorescence microscopy.