Solution Blow Spinning of Food‐Grade Gelatin Nanofibers

Abstract

The primary advantage of nanofibers over larger diameter fibers is the larger surface area to volume ratio. This study evaluated solution blow spinning (SBS) processing conditions for obtaining food-grade gelatin nanofibers from mammalian and fishery byproducts, such as pork skin gelatins (PGs) and high molecular weight fish skin gelatin (HMWFG). HMWFG had a highest intact collagen structure compared to PGs. PGs with different Bloom values, solution viscosities, and surface tensions were compared with HMWFG for their ability to produce nanofibers through SBS. Only HMWFG fibers were obtained irrespective of processing conditions, which looked like fluffy cotton candy. HMWFG nanofibers had round morphologies with a narrower diameter distribution and lower average fiber diameter (AFD) under medium gelatin concentrations, medium air pressures, and medium feed rates. The highest glass transition temperature (T ) values were obtained at medium concentrations, medium air pressure, and either high or low feed rate. The thinnest HMWFG nanofibers with an AFD of 80.1 nm and the highest T value of 59.0 °C could be formed by combining a concentration of 17.6% (w/v), an air pressure of 0.379 MPa, and a feed rate of 0.06 mL/min from the response surface analysis. HMWFG Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area increased from 221 to 237 m /g, indicating their potential applicability for active compound carrier.

Antimicrobial Carvacrol in Solution Blow‐Spun Fish‐Skin Gelatin Nanofibers

“…These suggested that the behavior of FFEs was dominated by the lecithin and the air–water interface might be saturated with lecithin molecules because it was the most surface‐active component in FFE. Although these decreases in surface tension would favor the formation of thinner and uniform nanofibers, those rheological properties related to the chain entanglement should also be considered (Liu et al., , ).…”

“…Nanofibers were prepared by solution blow‐spinning (SBS) at 18 °C and 48% relative humidity (RH) according to our previous study (Liu et al., ), with minor modifications. The SBS apparatus consisted of a syringe pump (KD Scientific, Holliston, Mass., U.S.A.), a concentric nozzle, and a source of compressed air.…”

“…Biopolymers, with their renewable nature, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, can also provide necessary characteristics like specific viscoelastic and surface tension values to blow‐spun nanofibers (Agarwal, Greiner, & Wendorff, ; Schiffman & Schauer, ). In our previous study (Liu et al., ), food‐grade nanofibers based merely on fish‐skin gelatin (FSG) were successfully fabricated using SBS with an acetic acid solution as the solvent. To our knowledge, that was the first study using only FSG to prepare nanofibers by SBS.…”

Preparation of Fish Skin Gelatin-Based Nanofibers Incorporating Cinnamaldehyde by Solution Blow Spinning

“…Nanofibers were prepared with the solution blow spinning (SBS) method at 18 °C and 48% relative humidity (RH) according to our previous study [ 26 ], with minor modifications. The SBS apparatus consisted of a syringe pump (KD Scientific, Holliston, MA, USA), a concentric nozzle, and a source of compressed air.…”

“…In addition, environmentally-friendly polymers are preferable to traditional petroleum-based polymers for use as the polymeric matrix in food applications [ 1 ]. According to Liu, et al [ 26 ], blow spun nanofibers can be successfully prepared from fish skin gelatin (FSG) using an acetic acid solution as the solvent.…”