A phase change material (PCM) from a mixture of plant oils was incorporated into electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers using an emulsion electrospinning technique. Effects of PCM and PVA content in the emulsions on nanofiber morphology, heat properties, and phase change stability were examined. Higher PCM loadings in the nanofibers led to increased fiber diameter, gouged fiber surfaces, and higher heat enthalpies. The fibers maintained their morphological integrity even if the PCM melted. They showed reliable heat-regulating performance which can undergo at least 100 cycles of phase change. Such PCM fibers may be used for the development of thermoregulating fabrics or in passive heat storage devices.
The polycaprolactone (PCL) known for its slow biodegradability shows potential applications in the field of skin scaffold production. In the current study PCL mats with micro scaled structure were produced via electrospinning and treated with NaOH solution for enhanced cell adhesion. The scaffolds were evaluated as an efficient stem cell growing material by human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts culture. The cell viability assay (CellTiter-Blue) of the as spun scaffolds was compared with previously prepared PU electrospun scaffolds, fibrin scaffolds and amniotic membrane scaffold. Significant difference in cell adhesion was evident between the natural and synthetic scaffolds. As far as the electrospun scaffolds were concerned the significance between, as well as for the NaOH treated, samples was less evident. The repetition of different donor cells fluorescence within the same scaffold material was also present.
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