Smart Stimuli-Responsive Polylactic Acid-Hydrogel Fibers Produced via Electrospinning

• Published in: Fibers and polymers Vol. 20; no. 9; pp. 1857 - 1868
• Main Authors: Štular, Danaja, Kruse, Magnus, Župunski, Vera, Kreinest, Laura, Medved, Jožef, Gries, Thomas, Blaeser, Andreas, Jerman, Ivan, Simončič, Barbara, Tomšič, Brigita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Fiber Society 01.09.2019; Springer Nature B.V; 한국섬유공학회
• Subjects: Capillarity; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chitosan; Contact angle; Controlled release; Electrospinning; Fluorescence; Hydrogels; Isopropylacrylamide; Mapping; Mechanical properties; Microfibers; Moisture content; Organic chemistry; Phase transitions; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; 섬유공학; Electrospinning; Temperature/pH responsive microfibers; Poly-NiPAAM/chitosan hydrogel; Controlled release; Polylactic acid
• ISSN: 1229-9197; 1875-0052
• DOI: 10.1007/s12221-019-9157-8

In this research we propose a new type of smart microfibers, distinguished by moisture management and proactive temperature and pH controlled release activity. Hydrogel with submicron-sized particles based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly-NiPAAm) and chitosan (PNCS hydrogel) was incorporated into the structure of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microfibers using the electrospinning technique. Composites with different PLA to PNCS hydrogel ratios were prepared, and the chemical and morphological properties of the samples were studied using SEM, FT-IR and Raman mapping. Additionally, the moisture management properties, which were provided by the temperature and pH-related phase change transition of the incorporated PNCS hydrogel, were studied by determining the temperature-related static contact angle, thin-layer wicking, moisture content and pH-related water uptake. The loading and release abilities of the incorporated PNCS hydrogel were studied using fluorescent microscopy. The increased concentration of the PNCS hydrogel in spinning solutions resulted in greater variations in fiber thickness and deterioration of the mechanical properties of the fibers; thus, the highest concentration of the PNCS hydrogel that could be incorporated within the fibers was found to be 20 % of the spinning mass. The composite sample showed temperature and pH responsiveness, a successful fluorescent-dye loading ability and its controlled release at predetermined conditions.