Electrospinning pectin-based nanofibers: a parametric and cross-linker study

Autor: Xiaoru Guo, Devon McCune, Romare Antrobus, Weiping Ren, Xiaolin Hua, Samuel Stealey, Subha Kumpaty, Wujie Zhang, Tong Shi, Junhong Chen, M. Kaltchev
Rok vydání: 2018
Předmět:
Zdroj: Applied Nanoscience. 8:33-40
ISSN: 2190-5517
2190-5509
Popis: Pectin, a natural biopolymer mainly derived from citrus fruits and apple peels, shows excellent biodegradable and biocompatible properties. This study investigated the electrospinning of pectin-based nanofibers. The parameters, pectin:PEO (polyethylene oxide) ratio, surfactant concentration, voltage, and flow rate, were studied to optimize the electrospinning process for generating the pectin-based nanofibers. Oligochitosan, as a novel and nonionic cross-liker of pectin, was also researched. Nanofibers were characterized by using AFM, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that oligochitosan was preferred over Ca2+ because it cross-linked pectin molecules without negatively affecting the nanofiber morphology. Moreover, oligochitosan treatment produced a positive surface charge of nanofibers, determined by zeta potential measurement, which is desired for tissue engineering applications.
Databáze: OpenAIRE