Electrospun hydroxyapatite fibers from a simple sol-gel system

This work reports the production of hydroxyapatite (HA) sub-micron fibers by combining electrospinning and a non-alkoxide sol-gel system, using cheap precursors. Phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O) were used as precursors of phosphorus and calcium, respectively. The fibers were electrospun from a mixture of the gel formed from the system Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O/P₂O₅ with polymeric solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in water and ethanol/water mixtures. The fibers were analyzed for their morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR) and structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD). The fibers obtained were composed mainly of type B carbonated HA with traces of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). SEM analysis revealed that increasing the concentration of water in the solvent system, used in the preparation of electrospinning solutions, led to fibers with smaller diameters and narrower diameter distribution.     

Removal of chromium from aqueous solution using cellulose acetate and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) blend ultrafiltration membranes

A process for purifying aqueous solutions containing heavy and toxic metals such as chromium has been investigated. Chromium salts are largely used in various industries including leather-manufacturing industry. Ultrafiltration processes are largely being applied for macromolecular and heavy metal ion separation from aqueous streams. Cellulose acetate and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) blend ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by precipitation phase inversion technique in 100/0, 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30% polymer blend compositions and subjected to the rejection of chromium at different concentrations such as 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm with a water-soluble macroligand (polyvinylalcohol). Factors affecting the percentage rejection and permeate flux such as pH, concentration of solute, concentration of PVA, transmembrane pressure and composition of blend membranes were investigated. It was found that percentage rejection improved at a pH 6 and a macroligand concentration of 2 wt.%. The transmembrane pressure and concentration of solute also have an effect on the separation and product rate efficiencies of the blend membranes.     

Ultrafine porous fibers electrospun from cellulose triacetate

Ultrafine porous cellulose triacetate (CTA) fibers were prepared by electrospinning with methylene chloride (MC) and a mixed solvent of MC/ethanol (EtOH) and their intra- and inter-fiber pore structures was investigated. Ultrafine porous CTA fibers electrospun with MC had isolated circular shape pores with a narrow size distribution in the range of 50–100 nm. In the case of ultrafine CTA fibers electrospun with MC/EtOH (90 / 10 v/v), they had interconnected larger pores in the range of 200–500 nm. These porous structures were induced by phase separation resulting from the rapid evaporation of solvent during the electrospinning process. However, non-porous corrugated fibers were obtained from MC/EtOH (85 / 15 v/v) and MC/EtOH (80 / 20 v/v) due to their lower vapor pressure. The pore sizes in ultrafine CTA fibers electrospun with MC showed a bimodal distribution centered at ∼17 and ∼64 nm. CTA fibers electrospun with MC/EtOH (90 / 10 v/v) showed the greatest porosity due to their larger intra-fiber pores and fiber diameter.     

Crosslinking of the electrospun polyethylene glycol/cellulose acetate composite fibers as shape-stabilized phase change materials

In a previous study, polyethylene glycol/cellulose acetate (PEG/CA) composite ultrafine fibers have been prepared by electrospinning. In order to improve their water-resistant ability and thermal stability for potential thermal storage applications, in this study, the electrospun PEG/CA fibers were crosslinked by using toluene-2, 4-diisocyanate (TDI). The morphology and thermal properties of the crosslinked fibers were investigated via SEM, DSC and TG, respectively. The results showed that the fibrous morphology of the crosslinked fibers was well preserved even after 24 h immersing in deionized water. Meanwhile, the crosslinking also led to an improvement on the thermal stability, but brought a decrease of the enthalpy compared with the original electrospun fibers.     

Studies of the drug permeability and mechanical properties of free films prepared by cellulose acetate pseudolatex coating system

Free films produced with cellulose acetate (CA) pseudolatex were prepared by the casting method. The effects of plasticizer concentration, drying temperature, and drying time on drug permeability and mechanical properties of free films were investigated by three-factor spherical second-order composite experimental design. The results were analyzed by the multivariable regression method. The experimental results indicated that plasticizer concentration, drying temperature, and drying time had complex effects on free film permeability and mechanical behavior. These results probably arise from the film-forming ability of CA pseudolatex particles at various conditions and the evaporation of plasticizer during the film-forming process     

CA/CTA共混不对称纳滤膜分离特性的研究

制备了ＣＡ／ＣＴＡ共混物不对称纳滤膜,膜对单价与多价阴离子能实现有效分离,并能去除小分子有机物．在１ＭＰａ操作压力下,料液温度为１５～２５℃,膜对１０００ｍｇ／Ｌ的ＮａＣｌ水溶液的截留率为１５％～６０％,而对１０００ｍｇ／Ｌ的Ｎａ２ＳＯ４水溶液截留率为８５％～９８％,其透水率在３０～７８Ｌ／（ｃｍ２·ｈ）,截留相对分子质量在２００～６００之间．研究了操作条件（压力、料液浓度、温度、膜面流速）,不同价态离子（阴离子、阳离子）对膜性能的影响规律．     

Release profiles of theophylline from microspheres consisting of dextran derivatives and cellulose acetate butyrate: effect of polyion complex formation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of mixtures among oppositely charged dextran derivatives as constituents of a controlled release microsphere. Carboxymethyldextran (CMD) and dextran sulfate (DS) were used as polyanions, and [2-(diethylamino) ethyl] dextran (EA) and [2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium] dextran (CDC) as polycations. The microspheres consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The mixtures, CMD/EA, CMD/CDC, DS/EA, and DS/CDC, were used as hydrophilic polymers, because they can interact with each other to form polyion complexes for the improvement of sustained-release performances. Cellulose acetate butyrate and theophylline were used as a model hydrophobic polymer and a model drug, respectively. The yield of microspheres was excellent (more than 95%). According to observation, by scanning election microscopy (SEM) microspheres were spherical with a rough surface. The in vitro drug release from microspheres was examined in the JP XIV first fluid, pH 1.2, and second fluid, pH 6.8, at 37°C, and 100 rpm. In the DS/CDC system, drug release was depressed by formation of a polyion complex and not affected by pH of dissolution medium. The release rate was modulated by the ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic matrix. This particulate system, in which the polyion complex matrix is strengthened by a hydrophobic polymer, is a promising formulation for drug delivery.     

Electrospun polyurethane fibers for absorption of volatile organic compounds from air

Electrospun polyurethane fibers for removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from air with rapid VOC absorption and desorption have been developed. Polyurethanes based on 4,4-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and aliphatic isophorone diisocyanate as the hard segments and butanediol and tetramethylene glycol as the soft segments were electrospun from their solutions in N,N-dimethylformamide to form micrometer-sized fibers. Although activated carbon possessed a many-fold higher surface area than the polyurethane fiber meshes, the sorption capacity of the polyurethane fibers was found to be similar to that of activated carbon specifically designed for vapor adsorption. Furthermore, in contrast to VOC sorption on activated carbon, where complete regeneration of the adsorbent was not possible, the polyurethane fibers demonstrated a completely reversible absorption and desorption, with desorption obtained by a simple purging with nitrogen at room temperature. The fibers possessed a high affinity toward toluene and chloroform, but aliphatic hexane lacked the necessary strong attractive interactions with the polyurethane chains and therefore was less strongly absorbed. The selectivity of the polyurethane fibers toward different vapors, along with the ease of regeneration, makes them attractive materials for VOC filtration.     

Cellulose acetate fibers covered by CdS nanoparticles for hybrid solar cell applications

In this work cellulose acetate (CA) fibers with a diameter of approximately 1 μm were immersed in a cadmium sulfide (CdS) precursor solution. After 3 h the original white color CA fibers became yellow and maintained the same form, suggesting the deposition of CdS on fiber surface. SEM images showed that CA fibers were covered by uniformly sized CdS nanoparticles of approximately 100 nm. XRD and optical absorption spectra indicated that they contained mostly cubic crystalline phase with the optical band gap of 2.43 eV. CdS coated CA fibers, called CdS(CA) fibers, were dispersed in a polar dispersant (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO) and then mixed with a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) solution in a non-polar solvent (dichlorobenzene, DCB). The mixture was cast onto a transparent conductive glass substrate (Indium–Tin–Oxide, ITO), and after solvent evaporation a thin layer of CdS(CA)–P3HT composite was formed. It is observed that the volume relation between the polar dispersant and non-polar solvent influences the solubility of the P3HT product in the composite coating and the photovoltaic performance of the corresponding cell as well. The mass ratio between CdS(CA) fibers and P3HT in the composite layer affects the optical absorption of the composite. The best photovoltaic performance was obtained in CdS(CA)–P3HT based cells with a volume relation between DCB and DMSO of 3.5–1, a mass ratio between CdS(CA) and P3HT of 1:1, and a rapid drying process for composite coatings.     

乙酸纤维素游离膜的吸湿性

研究了以乙酸纤维素为原料,丙酮为溶煤,用平面铸膜法制备的乙酸纤维素游离膜的吸湿性的特点．结果表明,游离膜的吸湿量和表观膜厚没有关系,仅与致密层厚度相关;增塑剂可增加膜的吸湿性,不同增塑剂对改善膜的吸湿性影响程度不同．     

Cellulose acetate nanofibers with photochromic property: Fabrication and characterization

Photochromic nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning the complex of cellulose acetate (CA)-1′,3′,3′-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro (2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indoline) (NO₂SP) and their photochromic properties were investigated. The as-spun nanofibers were characterized by infrared spectra (IR) and the results showed a significant hydrogen bonding reaction between CA and NO₂SP. Incorporated NO₂SP was found to exert no effect on the nanofiber morphology. Through monitoring the color change and the water contact angle of the CA-NO₂SP nanofibrous mat, the reversible photochromic property of the nanofibers was testified. The results of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry and fluorescence microscopy indicated that NO₂SP could endow electrospun fibers with good photochromic and fluorescent properties. Photochromic nanofibers with excellent photosensitivity have great potentials for the applications in optical devices and/or biosensors.     

Transient charge-masking effect of applied voltage on electrospinning of pure chitosan nanofibers from aqueous solutions

Abstract

The processing of a polyelectrolyte (whose functionality is derived from its ionized functional groups) into a nanofiber may improve its functionality and yield multiple functionalities. However, the electrospinning of nanofibers from polyelectrolytes is imperfect because polyelectrolytes differ considerably from neutral polymers in their rheological properties. In our study, we attempt to solve this problem by applying a voltage of opposite polarity to charges on a polyelectrolyte. The application of this ‘countervoltage’ can temporarily mask or screen a specific rheological property of the polyelectrolyte, making it behave as a neutral polymer. This approach can significantly contribute to the development of new functional nanofiber materials.     

Transient charge-masking effect of applied voltage on electrospinning of pure chitosan nanofibers from aqueous solutions

The processing of a polyelectrolyte (whose functionality is derived from its ionized functional groups) into a nanofiber may improve its functionality and yield multiple functionalities. However, the electrospinning of nanofibers from polyelectrolytes is imperfect because polyelectrolytes differ considerably from neutral polymers in their rheological properties. In our study, we attempt to solve this problem by applying a voltage of opposite polarity to charges on a polyelectrolyte. The application of this ‘countervoltage’ can temporarily mask or screen a specific rheological property of the polyelectrolyte, making it behave as a neutral polymer. This approach can significantly contribute to the development of new functional nanofiber materials.     

醋酸纤维素氨基甲酸酯膜材料的制备与表征

利用尿素对醋酸纤维素(CA)进行浸泡预处理,然后移入邻二甲苯惰性体系中进行反应,探讨合成过程中的影响因素,结果表明,预处理过程中尿素的质量分数为25%,预处理温度55℃,预处理时间5 h,反应时间3.5 h时,所得醋酸纤维素氨基甲酸酯(CAC)取代度可达到0.1.FT-IR表征可以证明成功合成出了CAC.用制备的CAC进行铸膜,CAC膜的拉伸强度及水通量要优于CA膜,同时研究得出随着取代度的升高,CAC膜的拉伸强度及水通量呈上升趋势.     

Toxic metal ion separation by cellulose acetate/sulfonated poly(ether imide) blend membranes: effect of polymer composition and additive

Toxic heavy metal ion removal from industrial effluents are gaining increased visibility owing to environmental concern and saving precious materials. In this work, an attempt has been made to remove the valuable metal ions using modified ultrafiltration (UF) blend membranes based on cellulose acetate (CA) and sulfonated poly(ether imide) (SPEI) were prepared in the presence and absence of additive, poly(ethylene glycol) 600 (PEG600) in various compositions. Prepared membranes were characterized in terms of pure water flux (PWF), water content and membrane hydraulic resistance. High flux UF membranes were obtained in the range of 15-25 wt% SPEI and 2.5-10 wt% PEG600 in the polymer blend. The molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the blend membranes were determined using protein separation studies found to vary from 20 to greater than 69 kDa. Surface morphology of the blend membranes were analysed with scanning electron microscopy. Studies were carried out to find the rejection and permeate flux of metal ions such as Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) using polyethyleneimine as the chelating ligand. On increasing the composition of SPEI and PEG600, the rejection of metal ions is decreasing while the permeate flux has an increasing trend. These effects are due to the increased pore formation in the CA/SPEI blend membranes because of the hydrophilic SPEI and polymeric additive PEG600. In general, it was found that CA/SPEI blend membranes displayed higher permeate flux and lower rejection compared to pure CA membranes. The extent of separation of metal ions depends on the affinity of metal ions to polyethyleneimine to form macromolecular complexes and the stability of the formed complexes.     

A novel shape-stabilized PCM: Electrospun ultrafine fibers based on lauric acid/polyethylene terephthalate composite

Recently, ultrafine fibers of PCM/polymer composites have been developed as a novel shape-stabilized polymer-matrix phase change material (PCM) via electrospinning technique. In this study, ultrafine fibers of lauric acid/polyethylene terephthalate (LA/PET) composite (1:1, w/w) were successfully prepared and characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile testing. The results indicated that the electrospun fibers showed smooth surfaces and cylindrical shape with diameters ranging from several tens to several hundreds nanometer, and the latent heat of fusion of the fibers is about 70.76 J/g. Although the tensile properties of the electrospun composite fibers were lower than that of the electrospun pure PET fibers, they showed suitable and competent tensile strength for the potential applications in solar energy storage and thermo-regulating textile.     

Emulsion/solvent evaporation as an alternative technique in pellet preparation

Paracetamol/Eudragit RS, paracetamol/ethylcellulose, and paracetamol/cellulose acetate pellets of different drug/polymer ratios (w/w) were prepared by the dissolution/solvent evaporation technique. These pellets were then characterized by particle size distribution analysis, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hard gelatin capsules were filled with each particle size fraction of these pellets, and in vitro dissolution studies were performed to verify the capability of each series of pellets to control drug release. Pellets were spherical, presented a polynucleated microcapsule structure, and under certain experimental conditions, the yield of the preparation process reached very high values. The dissolution studies pointed out the slow paracetamol release from these pellets.     

Cellulose acetate membranes for transdermal delivery of scopolamine base

Transdermal delivery is one of the most convenient drug administration routes. In this study, the cellulose acetate membranes were cast with acetone as a solvent at 22 and 40 °C. Polyethylene glycol (PEG, MW 600) was used as a pore-forming agent. The in vitro release rates of scopolamine base as a model drug through the membranes were evaluated in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.4) at 32 °C. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal mechanical analysis (TMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was observed that the drug permeation through the cellulose acetate membranes was obviously affected by the incorporated PEG content and formed membrane morphology. There was no drug flux from the cellulose acetate membranes prepared without PEG. An increased PEG content resulted in a faster scopolamine release due to a more porous structure created. Both the membrane fabrication temperature and the PEG content can affect the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of the resultant membranes. With the optimized fabrication conditions, linear in vitro release profiles of scopolamine over 3 days were achieved. The membranes developed would be useful for transdermal delivery of drugs.     

Effect of doping on TSD relaxation in cellulose acetate films

Thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) studies have been performed on solution grown cellulose acetate films doped with different concentrations of acrylic acid (AA) prepared at the poling temperatures (40–75°C) with poling fields (10–50 kV/cm). The TSDC spectra of pure and AA doped CA films reveal two relaxation peaks at 80°C and 180 ±2°C, having activation energies centred around 0.25 and 0.55 eV. The phenomena of the existence of these current maxima have been analyzed and discussed in terms of the molecular motion of the polar side groups and release of the remaining part of the frozen dipoles by their cooperative motion with adjoining segments of the main polymer chain. The peak currents, released charge and activation energies associated with the peaks are affected by AA doping. The effect of doping with acrylic acid on the discharge current indicates the formation of molecular aggregates     

静电纺丝法制备多孔纳米炭纤维及其电化学性能研究

分别以聚乙烯醇(PVA)/热固性酚醛树脂(PF)/碳酸钾(K2CO3)和PVA/PF的水溶液为纺丝原液,通过静电纺丝、固化和炭化处理制得多孔纳米炭纤维。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、低温氮气吸脱附等对所制多孔炭纳米纤维进行表征,并将所制多孔炭纤维作为模拟电容器电极材料,利用循环伏安和恒电流充放电进行了电化学性能测试。结果表明:纺丝原液中加入K2CO3后所制多孔纳米炭纤维的比表面积增大(从564 m.2g-1提高到668 m.2g-1),电化学性能提高(在电流密度为0.2 A.g-1的情况下,比电容由165 F.g-1提高到178 F.g-1)。