The Relationships between Process Parameters and Polymeric Nanofibers Fabricated Using a Modified Coaxial Electrospinning

Abstract

The concrete relationship between the process parameters and nanoproduct properties is an important challenge for applying nanotechnology to produce functional nanomaterials. In this study, the relationships between series of process parameters and the medicated nanofibers’ diameter were investigated. With an electrospinnable solution of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and ketoprofen as the core fluid, four kinds of nanofibers were prepared with ethanol as a sheath fluid and under the variable applied voltages. Based on these nanofibers, a series of relationships between the process parameters and the nanofibers’ diameters (D) were disclosed, such as with the height of the Taylor cone (H, D = 125 + 363H), with the angle of the Taylor cone (α, D = 1576 − 19α), with the length of the straight fluid jet (L, D = 285 + 209L), and with the spreading angle of the instable region (θ, D = 2342 − 43θ). In vitro dissolution tests verified that the smaller the diameters, the faster ketoprofen (KET) was released from the HPMC nanofibers. These concrete process-property relationships should provide a way to achieve new knowledge about the electrostatic energy-fluid interactions, and to meanwhile improve researchers’ capability to optimize the coaxial process conditions to achieve the desired nanoproducts.

Application of ANN modeling techniques in the prediction of the diameter of PCL/gelatin nanofibers in environmental and medical studies

“…These parameters have a positive impact on downsizing of the nanobers. [14][15][16][17][18] Despite important experimental investigations to determine ber diameter, using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy for example, it is still time-consuming and expensive. 18,19 Furthermore, complexities in the electrospinning method and many factors simultaneously affecting the preparation techniques cause the ndings from statistical tools, such as response surface methodology and regression analysis, to be very noisy.…”

“…18,19 Furthermore, complexities in the electrospinning method and many factors simultaneously affecting the preparation techniques cause the ndings from statistical tools, such as response surface methodology and regression analysis, to be very noisy. 16,20 Regression analysis is one of the traditional techniques that has been used for model generation but the accuracy decreases when the independent parameters increase. In complex phenomena modeling, methods such as an articial neural network (ANN) are employed.…”

A Novel Profiled Multi-Pin Electrospinning System for Nanofiber Production and Encapsulation of Nanoparticles into Nanofibers

“…The connected voltage is also one of the key elements in electrospinning 57,67 . A high applied voltage (>40 kV) is normally required to initiate the upward needleless electrospinning fiber production.…”

Electrospun Environment Remediation Nanofibers Using Unspinnable Liquids as the Sheath Fluids: A Review

“…The traditional coaxial electrospinning can only directly create solid core-shell structures, although which can be utilized to further prepare nanotubes and other derivatives [29]. In sharp contrast, the modified coaxial electrospinning can be exploited for producing core-shell structures, just as the traditional ones [30], but also can be utilized to prepare nanocoating on the core polymeric fibers [31]. What is more, when solvents are explored as the sheath working fluids, modified coaxial electrospinning can be utilized to stabilize the working process [32], keep the working processes from clogging, manipulate the nanofibers' diameter without the additions of salt or other additives, and systematically improve the nanofibers' quality.…”