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Abstract Electrospun fish gelatin (FGel) nanofibers (NF) mimic the natural bodies extracellular matrix's (ECM) structure and are an attractive material for many biomedical applications. However, FGel poor mechanical properties and rapid dissolution in an aqueous media paired with usually low productivity of the typical electrospinning process necessitate further effort in overcoming these issues. In this study, alternating field electrospinning (AFES) fabricates cold water fish skin gelatin nanofibrous materials (FGel NFM) with up to 10 wt.% Dextran (DEX) or acetyl glucosamine (AGA) from pure aqueous solutions at process productivity of 7.92–8.90 g∙h−1. Thermal crosslinking of as‐spun materials resulted in FGel‐based NFM with 125–325 nm fiber diameters. DEX (MW500k and MW75k) and AGA additives cause different effects on FGel fiber diameters, structure, tensile and degradation behavior, and in vitro performance. All tested materials reveal favorable, but not the same, cellular response through the formation of a confluent layer on the NFM surface regardless of the fibers’ composition despite the significant difference in FGel NFM structure and properties. Results show that AFES and thermal crosslinking of FGel‐based NFM can lead to a sustainable “green” fabrication technology of mono‐ and polysaccharide modified FGel‐based NFM scaffolds with the parameters attuned to targeted biomedical applications.
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Electrospinning Using AC Electric Fields
Abstract Electrospinning is increasingly used as a staple technology for the fabrication of nano‐ and micro‐fibers of different materials. Most processes utilize direct current (DC) electrospinning, and a multitude of DC‐electrospinning tools ranging from research to commercial production systems is currently available. Yet, there are numerous studies performed on electrospinning techniques utilizing non‐DC, periodic electric fields, or alternating current (AC) electrospinning. Those studies demonstrate the strong potential of AC‐electrospinning for the sustainable production of various nanofibrous materials and structures. Although tremendous progress is achieved in the development of AC‐electrospinning over the last 10 years, this technique remains uncommon. This paper reviews the AC‐electrospinning concepts, instrumentation, and technology. The main focus of this review is the most studied, “electric wind” driven AC‐electrospinning technique tentatively named alternating field electrospinning (AFES). The latter term emphasizes the role of the AC electric field's confinement to the fiber‐generating electrode and the absence of a counter electrode in such an electrospinning system. The synopses of AFES process parameters, fiber‐generating spinneret designs, benefits and obstacles, advancements in AC electrospun nano/micro‐fibrous materials/structures and their applications are given, and future directions are discussed.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1852207
- PAR ID:
- 10644741
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Rapid Communications
- Volume:
- 46
- Issue:
- 13
- ISSN:
- 1022-1336
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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