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Electrospun DOXY-h loaded-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) nanofiber mats (PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats) were prepared by the electrospinning technique and post-spinning sorption method at various doses: PAA/DOXY-h125, PAA/DOXY-h250, PAA/DOXY-h500, and PAA/DOXY-h1000. The morphology, drug content, release characteristics, and antibacterial activities of the PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and disc diffusion methodology. The PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats had a diameter range of 285-340 nm, and a smooth surface without beads. Adsorption isotherms of DOXY-h could be described well with the Freundlich model. The amounts of DOXY-h, after the post-spinning sorption process, in the PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats ranged between 27.57 and 101.71 mg/g. All of the PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats exhibited an initial burst release characteristic with cumulative releasing percentages between 37.14 and 45.97%, which followed the Fickian diffusion mechanism. Based on the antibacterial investigation, the tested gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, seemed to be more sensitive to PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats than the tested gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These PAA/DOXY-h nanofiber mats could be used as an antibacterial wound dressing.

For the first time, electrospun nanofiber phases were fabricated with manganese-activated zinc silicate as photoluminescent indicator (UV254) to transfer and enlarge its application to the field of UV-active compounds. By integration of such an indicator, UV-active compounds got visible on the chromatogram. The separation of 7 preservatives and a beverage sample were studied on the novel luminescent polyacrylonitrile layers. The mat thickness and mean fiber diameters were calculated for additions of different UV254 indicator concentrations. The separation efficiency on the photoluminescent layers was characterized by comparison to HPTLC layers and calculation of the plate numbers and resolutions. Some benefits were the reduction in migration distance (3cm), migration time (12min), analyte (10-nL volumes) and mobile phase volumes (1mL). As ultrathin stationary phase, such layers are suited for their integration into the Office Chromatography concept. For the first time, electrospun nanofiber layers were hyphenated with mass spectrometry and the confirmation of compounds was successfully performed using the elution-head based TLC-MS Interface., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Attempts to create hierarchically structured, uniaxially oriented nanocomposites comprising cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs), which promise anisotropic mechanical properties, are exceedingly rare. We report here the fabrication of uniaxially-oriented arrays of microfibers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and CNWs by electrospinning. Compared with the neat PEO fibers, the incorporation of CNWs within the fibers increased the storage modulus (E') of arrays along the fiber axis of the PEO/CNW nanocomposite fibers. Successful incorporation of the CNWs within each of the as-spun PEO/CNW nanocomposite fibers in the direction parallel to the fiber axis was verified by both scanning and transmission electron microscopy., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats (es-PAN nanofiber mats) were surface modified by 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (2,4-DNPH) to yield the metal ion adsorption material (es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats) and were investigated their adsorption behaviors. Functional modification of the es-PAN nanofiber mats and conventional polyacrylonitrile fibers (c-PAN fibers) were prepared by using 4% (w/v) of 2,4-DNPH in 1,2-ethandiol at 110°C for 6 h to obtained c-PAN-DNPH fibers. The average diameter of the es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats was 0.25 μm, which was comparatively smaller than the es-PAN precursor. Their functional groups were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and their adsorption behaviors to trace Ag(I), Bi(III), Ga(III), and In(III) from aqueous solutions and were investigated by the induced couple plasma technique. The FT-IR spectra showed the existence of NN=C-NHNH-, O=C-NHNH-, and -NO2 functional groups for metal complexes. The adsorption capacities of the obtained es-PAN-DNPH were 7.14 to 36.36% higher than those of c-PAN-DNPH fibers. All adsorption plots onto es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats and c-PANDNPH fibers followed the Langmuir isotherm and indicated monolayer adsorption characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelatin, a naturally-occurring biopolymer, was electrospun in the present contribution. Gelatin solutions were prepared in either single solvent system [i.e., glacial acetic acid (AA)] or mixed solvent systems [i.e., AA/ 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), AA/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), AA/ethylene glycol (EG), and AA/formamide (F)]. The electrospinning was carried out under a fixed electrostatic field strength of 7.5 kV/7.5cm and the polarily of the emitting electrode was positive. The effects of these solvent systems on morphology and/or size of the electrospun materials were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrospinning of 15-29% w/v gelatin solutions in AA produced beads, beaded fibers, and smooth fibers, depending on the concentration range. Only smooth fibers were observed at the concentration range of 21-29% w/v, with their average diameter ranging between 214 and 839 nm. The addition of TFE as a co-solvent or another modifying liquid of DMSO, EG, or F helped improve the electrospinnability of the resulting gelatin solution. Among the three modifying liquids, DMSO and EG contributed to the formation of smooth gelatin fibers with reduced diameters when compared with those obtained from the solution in pure AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]