Fabrication and Controlling Morphology of Polyethylene Oxide/Sodium Alginate Beads and/or Fibers: Effect of Viscosity and Conductivity in Electrospinning

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the viscosity and conductivity of PEO/NaAlg polymer solutions, to formulate PEO/NaAlg beads, bead-on-string fibers and fibers via electrospinning, and to perform advanced morphological characterization studies on them.
 Material and Method: Effect of PEO and NaAlg concentration and ratio of them on spinnability, viscosity and conductivity of solutions, and also on the morphological properties of PEO/NaAlg electrospun fibers, and beads (length, width and aspect ratio of beads, number of beads and bead area) were investigated.
 Result and Discussion: As a result, electrospun materials were produced using PEO/NaAlg beads and/or fibers, which are valuable for medical and biological applications such as tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery system. Viscosity and conductivity of solutions, and morphological properties of the obtained materials were found to be affected by PEO and NaAlg concentration and the ratio of them. Spinnability was improved thanks to the increase in conductivity in the presence of PEO. The lower viscosity and conductivity resulted in the production of beads that were generally smaller and greater in number in the material and having higher area. The morphological properties of PEO/NaAlg electrospun materials can be modified by controlling the parameters examined in the study.