Electrospun Nanoparticle–Nanofiber Composites via a One‐Step Synthesis

Abstract

A facile approach to synthesize and incorporate metal nanoparticles (NPs) into electrospun polymer nanofibers (NFs) wherein the electrospinning polymer acts as both a reducing agent for the metal salt precursor, as well as a protecting and templating agent for the ensuing NPs, is reported. Such a true one-step process at ambient conditions and free of organic solvents is demonstrated using a system comprising AgNO(3) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) at electrospinnable molecular weights of 600, 1000, or 2000 kDa. The PEO transforms Ag(+) into AgNPs, a phenomenon that has not been previously possible at PEO molecular weights less than 20 kDa without the addition of a separate reducing agent and stabilizer or the application of heat. Results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometry analyses support the formation of pseudo-crown ethers in high molecular weight PEO as the mechanism in the development of NPs. The AgNPs reduce fiber diameter and enhance fiber quality (reduced beading) due to increased electrical conductivity. Interestingly, several of the NFs exhibit AgNP-localized nanochain formation and protrusion from the NF surface that can be attributed to the combined effect of applied electrical field on the polymer and the differences between the electrical conductivity and polarizability of the polymer and metal NPs.

Studies on the synthesis of electrospun PAN‐Ag composite nanofibers for antibacterial application

“…Electrospun fibers, however, are often collected in the form of randomly oriented, nonwoven fabrics. 21,22 In the recent years electrospinning has been widely used to produce various polymer nanofibers mats functionalized with inorganic nanoparticles. Bai et al 23 have synthesized AgCl/PAN composite nanofibers by electrospinning method.…”

One-step synthesis of size-tunable Ag nanoparticles incorporated in electrospun PVA/cyclodextrin nanofibers

“…Although the solution conductivity increased a bit, high solution viscosity of PVA/HP␤CD-25% yielded thicker fibers. In the case of electrospun PVA/Ag-NP nanofibers, the AFD decreased to 235 ± 40 nm when compared to PVA nanofibers and this was owing to the presence of Ag-NP which contributed to higher solution conductivity (Saquing et al, 2009) and the viscosity of the solution was also lowered which resulted in more stretching of the electrospinning jet. The PVA/HP␤CD/Ag-NP solutions have higher viscosity and conductivity values, in addition, the higher amount of HP␤CD, the higher the viscosity of the solutions were obtained and the solution conductivity of the PVA/HP␤CD/Ag-NP systems were very close to each other.…”

“…For example, one-step synthesis of Ag-NP incorporated in polyethylene oxide nanofibers (Saquing, Manasco, & Khan, 2009) or polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (Mahanta & Valiyaveettil, 2012) was achieved where the polymer solution was used as both a reducing and protecting agent for Ag-NP and an electrospinning template. In other studies, polymer/Ag-NP composite nanofibers were produced in one-step by using the electrospinning solvent as a reducing agent and the electrospinning polymer matrix as a stabilizing/protective agent .…”

Electrospinning of Functional Nanofibers for Regenerative Medicine: From Bench to Commercial Scale

“…Solutions were then electrospin resulting in PVP nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles. Saquing et al presented a facile one-step technique to synthesise and incorporate silver nanoparticles into electrospun nanofibers [101]. They chose PEO as the electrospinning polymer which is also used as a reducing again for the metal salt precursor and protects the formed nanoparticles from agglomeration.…”