Structure Of Nanofibers Research Articles

Solution Blow Spun Mats with Beaded-Fiber Morphologies as a Drug Delivery System with Potential Use for Skin Wound Dressing.

The regeneration of skin injuries can be aided by tissue engineering strategies, which enable the recovery of the structural and functional integrity of the damaged tissue. The Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) technique has attracted the attention of researchers due to the production of nanofiber mats in a continuous process, which exhibit high porosity and the ability to deliver drugs locally. The objective of this work was to produce and encapsulate ibuprofen in mats of PCL/PEG as a fast-acting analgesic drug delivery system. Initially, beaded nanofiber structures were produced from PCL solutions in chloroform at 8% (w/v) and PCL/PEG solutions in mass ratios of 2:1 and 1:1. The influence of the PEG concentration, gas pressure (compressed air), and solution injection rate on the fibers' morphology was analyzed by SEM. Then, the best condition for the formation of PCL/PEG beaded fiber structure was selected (1:1, 137.90 kPa, and 7.2 mL/h) for the fabrication of the mat containing ibuprofen at proportions of 5, 15, and 30% by polymer mass (PCL/PEG). The SBS-spun mats demonstrated a remarkable swelling capacity of approximately 400%, with bead presence enabling a gradual release of ibuprofen within the first 5 h. Additionally, the wound-healing assay confirmed that ibuprofen-loaded PCL/PEG8 mats significantly promoted NF migration, suggesting their potential to accelerate the wound-healing process.

Advanced nanofibers integrating vitamin D3 and cerium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced diabetic wound healing: Co-electrospun silk fibroin-collagen and chitosan-PVA systems.

Advanced nanofibers integrating vitamin D3 and cerium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced diabetic wound healing: Co-electrospun silk fibroin-collagen and chitosan-PVA systems.

Interface modification of hollow nanofiber structure of Ni-C composites

Interface modification of hollow nanofiber structure of Ni-C composites

Electrospun PLGA/PCL Nanofiber Film Loaded with LPA Promotes Full-Layer Wound Healing by Regulating the Keratinocyte Pyroptosis.

Electrospun nanofibers have a number of qualities that make them a suitable choice for skin wound healing. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulates the keratinocytes and fibroblasts to proliferate, differentiate, and migrate and enhances skin wound healing. Here, we developed the electrospun scaffolds contained in polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). The scaffolds loaded with LPA nanoparticles retained a porous nanofiber structure and showed better physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The scaffold continuously releases LPA to quickly initiate cell signaling and maintain long-term anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we found that PP scaffold with LPA reduces the disordered collagen deposition and the thickness of the newborn epidermis, improves skin healing, and reduces scar formation. Explaining the mechanism of LPA mineralized tissue regeneration in skin wound healing, LPA inhibited the pyroptosis of keratinocyte, a cell death process that induces inflammation and scar formation by inhibiting the expression of TNF-α and β-catenin proteins. Thus, the electrospun PP scaffold with LPA can be potentially developed as a therapeutic avenue to target skin wound healing.

Alginate/bacterial cellulose/GelMA scaffolds with aligned nanopatterns and hollow channel networks for vascularized bone repair.

Alginate/bacterial cellulose/GelMA scaffolds with aligned nanopatterns and hollow channel networks for vascularized bone repair.

Blood clot inspired pore‐gradient nanofiber sponge with “outer filtration” and “inner adsorption” bifunction for rapid stop of uncontrolled hemorrhage

AbstractEffectively controlling deep non‐compressible bleeding remains a major challenge. In this study, by mimicking nanofiber structure and netting blood cells function of fibrin network in blood clots, we develop a novel bioinspired quaternized chitosan nanofiber sponge with distinct blood cells filtration and blood plasma absorption bifunction for rapid hemostasis. The quaternized chitosan nanofiber sponge possesses a unique gradient pore structure with small pores on the outer surface and large pores in the inner part. The outer small pores effectively capture blood cells with a filtration efficiency as high as 91.7%, while the inner large pores endow with an ultrahigh liquid absorption capacity (93 g/g), surpassing previously reported literature records. The quaternized chitosan nanofiber sponge demonstrates a hemostasis time 2.5 times faster than that of the commercial gelatin® hemostatic sponge when treating the rat liver defect bleeding (noncompressible hemorrhage model). When applied to the rabbit arterial injury bleeding (lethal arterial hemorrhage model), the bioinspired nanofiber sponge achieves bleeding control within only 61.6 s, while both commercial gelatin® hemostatic sponge and commercial collagen® hemostatic sponge fail to stop bleeding even after 240 s. This bioinspired nanofiber sponge derived from the physiological coagulation process may hold great potential for pre‐hospital and battlefield first aid.

Optimising the manufacturing of electrospun nanofibrous structures for textile applications: a machine learning approach

Electrospun structures, known for their high porosity and surface area, can be tuned by optimising manufacturing parameters. These characteristics make them ideal for waterproof and breathable textiles, skin-like non-woven fabrics, and smart wearable bioelectronic textiles. This research aims to develop a manufacturing optimisation methodology using machine learning models to control fibre diameter and inter-fibre separation for textile applications. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) structures were produced with varying concentrations (10, 12, 14, 16 w/v) and different parameters such as flow rate (0.5–5 ml/h), voltage (18–25 kV), needle diameter (15–23 G), distance between needle and collector (5–11 cm), and mandrel revolution (500–3000 rpm). Data from 2560 observations of fibre diameter and inter-fibre separations were used to train 20 machine learning models. C5.0 Decision Trees and Rule-Based Models identified optimal setups, achieving high prediction accuracy for fibre diameter (0.868) and inter-fibre separation (0.861). This research advances the optimisation of electrospinning techniques for textile applications.

Breaking 20% Efficiency of all‐Polymer Solar Cells via Benzo[1,2‐d:4,5‐d′]Bisthiazole‐Based Terpolymer Donor Strategy for Fine Morphology Optimization

AbstractDeveloping high‐performance all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) remains a challenge due to the difficulty in controlling the morphology of polymer blends. In this study, benzo[1,2‐d:4,5‐d′]bisthiazole (BBTz) is incorporated into the PM6 main chain to create a series of terpolymer donors, leveraging the entropy increase and superior miscibility with polymer acceptors to modulate blend morphology. The introduction of BBTz broadened the absorption range, enhanced film crystallinity, and significantly improved donor‐acceptor miscibility through its low dipole moment and high electrostatic potential. This facilitated the formation of nanofiber structures in the active layer, thus optimizing blend morphology. As a result, the PBZ‐10:PY‐IT‐based device achieved an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.06%. Incorporation of PBQx‐TF into the binary blend can further improve morphology, charge transport, exciton lifetime, charge dissociation, and collection, as well as suppressed charge recombination, finally leading to a record‐breaking PCE of 20.04% for all‐PSCs to date. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the terpolymer strategy in enhancing all‐PSC performance. By optimizing molecular design and component selection, this approach provides a viable pathway for achieving higher efficiency all‐PSCs and supports the advancement of renewable energy technologies.

De novo design of self-assembling peptides with antimicrobial activity guided by deep learning.

Bioinspired materials based on self-assembling peptides are promising for tackling various challenges in biomedical engineering. While contemporary data-driven approaches have led to the discovery of self-assembling peptides with various structures and properties, predicting the functionalities of these materials is still challenging. Here we describe the deep learning-guided de novo design of antimicrobial materials based on self-assembling peptides targeting bacterial membranes to address the emerging problem of bacterial drug resistance. Our approach integrates non-natural amino acids for enhanced peptide self-assembly and effectively predicts the functional activity of the self-assembling peptide materials with minimal experimental annotation. The designed self-assembling peptide leader displays excellent in vivo therapeutic efficacy against intestinal bacterial infection in mice. Moreover, it exhibits an enhanced biofilm eradication capability and does not induce acquired drug resistance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the designed peptide can self-assemble on bacterial membranes to form nanofibrous structures for killing multidrug-resistant bacteria. This work thus provides a strategy to discover functional peptide materials by customized design.

Double cross-linked cellulose hydrogel-supported Fe species for efficient wound healing.

Traditional dressings often lack adequate skin structure support, which can lead to secondary damage, poor hemostasis, and an increased risk of inflammation due to wound adhesion. In this work, cellulose hydrogels were prepared by physical/chemical double cross-linking via a 'sol-gel' strategy and further loaded with Fe to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) porous cellulose/Fe composite hydrogel (cellulose/Fe gel). The obtained cellulose/Fe gel featured a 3D porous nanofiber structure, excellent water absorption/moisture retention performance, and good mechanical stability. Moreover, it could effectively remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit cellular oxidative stress, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory effects. When applied to wound repair in rats, cellulose/Fe gel, with excellent cell compatibility, effectively stimulated the formation of new blood vessels and significantly reduced the level of inflammatory factors, promoting wound healing. This work provides a new approach for cellulose-based hydrogel wound dressings.

Electrospun Composites of Bioactive Glass/Pomegranate Seed Oil/Poly(ε-caprolactone) for Bone Tissue Engineering

The increasing demand for bone tissue implants due to population growth and the need to replace damaged bone has led to the development of novel scaffold systems in bone tissue applications. In this study, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated using the electrospinning method, incorporating 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) particles—synthesized by the melt quenching method—and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), a natural component known to enhance bone regeneration. For this purpose, the effect of different concentrations of PSO (5, 10, and 15% w/w relative to PCL) was investigated, while the BG content was kept constant at 15% w/w. The scaffolds were further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle tests, which showed that nanofibers were formed and that PSO was successfully incorporated into the nanofibers. Bioactivity assays were carried out in simulated body fluid for 28 days, and the nanofiber structures were examined using SEM, EDS, and XRD. The nanofiber loaded with BG and PSO at the concentration of 15% w/w showed a higher formation of the hydroxyapatite-like layer compared to the scaffolds containing PSO at concentrations of 5 and 10% w/w. Furthermore, the MTT assay using L929 fibroblast cells demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the developed membranes. These results suggest that the combination of BG and PSO in PCL nanofibers may be useful for improving bone tissue regeneration strategies.

Cost effective reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline composite coated SSM cathode for bio-electrochemical desalination: Advancing desalination via cathodic improvement

Cost effective reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline composite coated SSM cathode for bio-electrochemical desalination: Advancing desalination via cathodic improvement

Research on the stable spreading mechanism of the droplet and analysis on the spinnability of a novel electrospinning nozzle based on radially splayed multiple vanes

Electrospun nanofibers have gained much interest recently because of their adjustable porous structure, high specific surface area, and large number of active sites, further enhancing the performance of nanofiber materials, which are prepared in laboratories using the needle electrospinning method most frequently. However, the issues in the needle electrospinning process, such as liquid clogging on the needle tip and droplet dripping/splashing, have negative effects on the production, morphology, structure, and property of the electrospun nanofibers. In this paper, a novel electrospinning nozzle based on radially splayed multiple vanes was proposed to solve the problems existing in the capillary needle electrospinning process. The spreading status and holding time of the droplet on the nozzle tip were theoretically addressed through a series of mathematical calculations and derivations. The spinnability of the PAN solution on the novel nozzle was tested to investigate the spinnable concentration range. The experimental results showed that the novel nozzle with an approximate 38.5° splaying angle can promote the full spreading of the droplet up to a diameter of ∼8 mm and prolong the droplet dripping time exceeding 123 s for a 10 wt. % PAN solution. The spinnable viscosity of the novel nozzle could reach 143 Pa s, which was nearly four times that of the conventional capillary needle. In addition, the multiple jets could be inspired in electrospinning by the novel nozzle and the nanofibers prepared were featured with a fine diameter of 420 nm and a coefficient of variance value as low as 15%. Both the theoretical analysis and experimental results indicated that the novel nozzle based on radially splayed multiple vanes was capable of optimizing the spreading surface and holding time of the spinning solution, and the solution droplet could be kept stably on the nozzle without dripping and splashing. More importantly, this novel nozzle can broaden the spinnability range of the spinning solution.

Ceria-based electrospun nanofibers and their widespread applications: A review.

Ceria-based electrospun nanofibers and their widespread applications: A review.

Development of Oleylamine-Directed Nano-OZIF-67 Induced Microporous Carbon Nanofiber Conjugated with Tiny Fibrous PEDOT Polymer for Hybrid-Capacitor Electrodes.

Making nanostructured metal oxides intertwined with graphitic carbon materials is critically important to construct hybrid supercapacitors with high-performance, cost-affordable, and free-standing 1D hybrid electrode material and is of foremost importance to responding positively to the impending energy crisis. Fine-tuned nano-sized ZIF-67 particles of 5 - 25nm width (OZIF-67) are achieved using oleylamine-involved synthesis and are seeded into fibrous poly-PAN-PVP. Porous N-doped carbon nanofibers impregnated with OZIF-67-derived Co3O4 (oz-Co3O4-PNCNF) are obtained by calcining the electrospun polymer. The surface area of oz-Co3O4-PNCNF is exceptionally high, 429 m2g-1, with the pore size predominantly ≈2 - 5nm. Thin conducting polymer films of poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are formed onto oz-Co3O4-PNCNF (oz-Co3O4-PNCNF/PEDOT). A porous, long nanofibrous structure (≈100nm thick) of oz-Co3O4-PNCNF and a spongy needle-like network of PEDOT interconnecting outer layers are established from FESEM images. The material has shown excellent energy storage capability with the specific capacitance (CS) of 417 F g-1 (oz-Co3O4-PNCNF/PEDOT). Free-standing supercapacitor device delivers excellent performance in asymmetric assembly (oz-Co3O4-PNCNF/PEDOT//PNCNF) with 141.1Wh kg-1 and 84% CS at the end of 5000 charge-discharge cycles. The excellent porous network, combined with finely-tuned nano-sized Co3O4 particles and an overlying thin electropolymer film, work together to establish high energy, efficient, and stable supercapacitors.

Improving the piezoelectric performance of multilayered nanogenerators based on composite polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–polystyrene sulfonate nanofiber structure

Rising global population and increasing energy demand highlight the need for renewable energy sources. Piezoelectric nanogenerators are emerging as promising candidates for sustainable energy production. This study focuses on enhancing the energy conversion efficiency of these devices by modifying their structural configuration. Composite nanogenerators were fabricated using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) nanofibers through a layer-by-layer electrospinning technique. Multilayer structures with different PVDF-to-PEDOT:PSS volume ratios (100:0, 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70) were analyzed to evaluate the impact of the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS on electrical output. This study addresses two key questions: the impact of PEDOT:PSS on PVDF nanogenerator performance and the optimal composition for enhanced output. Results indicated that incorporating PEDOT:PSS improved both electrical conductivity and crystallinity, with the 50:50 ratio yielding a fourfold increase in output voltage compared to pure PVDF sensor. The results provide valuable insights for designing advanced energy-harvesting devices, with potential applications in wearable electronics, self-power sensors, and sustainable energy systems.

Enhancing Piezoelectricity of Polyacrylonitrile-Cellulose Composite Nanofibers via Zigzag Conformation.

A novel piezoelectric material, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, exhibits significant piezoelectric effects when a high content of planar zigzag structures is present. To enhance the contribution of planar zigzag structures to energy conversion while preserving the structure of PAN nanofibers, a novel approach was developed to increase planar zigzag content by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) rather than modifying conventional synthesis conditions. In this study, CNCs were introduced during the electrospinning process of PAN formation, and the increased planar zigzag content was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical characterization, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that CNC addition to PAN enhances the mechanical properties and piezoelectric performance by promoting the formation of zigzag structures, which play a crucial role in the piezoelectric effect. The PAN-CNC composite holds great potential for applications in new piezoelectric devices. With CNC incorporation, the voltage increased by 68.9%, and the current increased by 80% compared to regular PAN. The generated energy is suitable for human applications and can also power commercial devices, making these findings pivotal for the advancement of piezoelectric materials and devices.

Effect of blown air temperature on morphology, phase structure and filtration efficiency of PVDF nanofibrous mats produced via electro‐blowing

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of temperature of pressurized blown air on fiber morphology, porosity, phase structure, and filtration performance of PVDF nanofibers produced via the electro‐blowing method for the first time. The blown air heated to 20, 40, 60, and 80°C was utilized during production. Increasing air temperature resulted in more homogeneous distribution of fibers and defect‐free fibrous mats, accompanied by a significant reduction in fiber diameter. A linear relationship between fiber diameter and pore size was observed; as fiber diameter decreased, reducing air permeability due to smaller pore sizes. FTIR measurements revealed the highest β‐phase content (82%) in the PVDF‐80C sample produced at 80°C. The rise in temperature lowered solution viscosity and surface tension, contributing to improved drawing effect and therefore higher β‐phase content in the PVDF polymer. Corona discharge treatment further enhanced the surface potential, with the finest fibers exhibiting the highest surface charge. The PVDF‐80C sample demonstrated the best performance during filtration tests against NaCl aerosols (PM0.3) at a flow rate of 95 L/min, achieving a filtration efficiency of 98.68% with a pressure drop of 153 Pa. These findings highlight the critical role of temperature in influencing nanofiber properties and filtration performance.Highlights Finer fibers and defect‐free mats achieved with increased air temperature. PVDF‐80C showed 82% β‐phase content, the highest among all samples. Smaller fiber diameter led to reduced pore size and lower air permeability. Corona discharge enhanced surface potential, boosting fiber charge. PVDF‐80C achieved 98.68% filtration efficiency with 153 Pa pressure drop.

Electrospinning Using AC Electric Fields.

Electrospinning is increasingly used as a staple technology for the fabrication of nano- and micro-fibers of different materials. Most processes utilize direct current (DC) electrospinning, and a multitude of DC-electrospinning tools ranging from research to commercial production systems is currently available. Yet, there are numerous studies performed on electrospinning techniques utilizing non-DC, periodic electric fields, or alternating current (AC) electrospinning. Those studies demonstrate the strong potential of AC-electrospinning for the sustainable production of various nanofibrous materials and structures. Although tremendous progress is achieved in the development of AC-electrospinning over the last 10years, this technique remains uncommon. This paper reviews the AC-electrospinning concepts, instrumentation, and technology. The main focus of this review is the most studied, "electric wind" driven AC-electrospinning technique tentatively named alternating field electrospinning (AFES). The latter term emphasizes the role of the AC electric field's confinement to the fiber-generating electrode and the absence of a counter electrode in such an electrospinning system. The synopses of AFES process parameters, fiber-generating spinneret designs, benefits and obstacles, advancements in AC electrospun nano/micro-fibrous materials/structures and their applications are given, and future directions are discussed.

Dual-corn-derived nanofiber membrane for subconjunctival injury: Sequential release of dual-natural products for programmed anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis.

Dual-corn-derived nanofiber membrane for subconjunctival injury: Sequential release of dual-natural products for programmed anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis.