Superhydrophobic, Reversibly Elastic, Moldable, and Electrospun (SupREME) Fibers with Multimodal Functions: From Oil Absorbents to Local Drug Delivery Adjuvants

Abstract

Surface hydrophobicity has served as a core means for governing the spatial behaviors of numerous substances depending on their affinities to oil or aqueous phases. Exploiting systems that can maximize hydrophobic features contributes to the development of versatile supports capable of spatially separating, guiding, or protecting target materials in defined manners. Herein, superhydrophobic, reversibly elastic, moldable, and electrospun (SupREME) fibers, which exhibit multimodal functions for arranging spatial responses of substances with distinct affinities to oil phases, are fabricated by coaxially electrospinning polysulfone and poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), followed by a thermal process. The exterior PSF layers enable volumetric expansion of the fibers, further reinforcing the overall superhydrophobicity (contact angles >150°). The elastic core PGS networks confer reversibly compressible properties (>100 cycles) to the fibers, ultimately enhancing their hydrophobic performance and extending their durability. The SupREME fibers demonstrate superiorities as absorbents for selectively separating oil‐based substances, sealants for blocking the leakage of aqueous fluids, and adjuvants for temporarily enhancing the local residence of drugs by repelling ambient fluidic environments. The SupREME fibers can be versatile platforms in many applications that require the spatial regulation of specific substances with affinities to oil or water phases, ranging from environmental industries to medical fields.