response surface analysis
Janja Mirtič (Author), Helena Balažic (Author), Špela Zupančič (Author), Julijana Kristl (Author)

Abstract

Alginate is a promising biocompatible and biodegradable polymer for production of nanofibers for drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, alginate is difficult to electrospin due to its polyelectrolyte nature. The aim was to improve the 'electrospinability' of alginate with addition of exceptionally high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a co-polymer. The compositions of the polymer-blend solutions for electrospinning were varied for PEO molecular weight, total (alginate plus PEO) polymer concentration, and PEO proportion in the dry alginate PEO polymer mix used. These were tested for rheology (viscosity, complex viscosity, storage and loss moduli) and conductivity, and the electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. One-parameter-at-a-time approach and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the polymer-blend solution composition to obtain defined nanofibers. Both approaches revealed that the major influence on nanofiber formation and diameter were total polymer concentration and PEO proportion. These polymer-blend solutions of appropriate conductivity and viscosity enabled fine-tuning of nanofiber diameter. PEO molecular weight of 2-4 million Da greatly improved the electrospinnability of alginate, producing nanofibers with >85% alginate. This study shows that RSM can be used to design nanofibers with optimal alginate and co-polymer contents to provide efficient scaffold material for regenerative medicine.

Keywords

nanovlakna;elektrospiniranje;alginat;polietilen oksid;prevodnost;viskoelastične lastnosti;metodologija odzivne površine;nanofibers;electrospinning;alginate;polyethylene oxide;conductivity;viscoelastic properties;response surface methodology;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
Publisher: MDPI
UDC: 66.017-022.513.2:620.3
COBISS: 4704625 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 2073-4360
Views: 364
Downloads: 127
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: Nanomateriali;
Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: str. 1-20
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ11
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ4
Chronology: Apr. 2019
DOI: 10.3390 / polym11040692
ID: 12639642