Emulsion electrospinning is a versatile
technique to
generate nonwoven
fibrous meshes. Using surfactants to reduce surface tension at the
needle tip and interfacial tension between continuous and dispersed
phases in an emulsion modifies final fiber characteristics critical
for performance in drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
This study aimed to investigate the role of nonionic surfactant location
and modulation of surface and interfacial tension during the electrospinning
process on resulting fiber properties. Bulk visual analysis of emulsion
stability, fiber morphology and diameter, and wettability of final
mesh was assessed. Polyglycerol polyricenoleate (PGPR) demonstrated
highest emulsion stability. All other surfactants decreased fiber
diameter. Mesh wettability increased with surfactant addition and
was further modulated in emulsions. Overall, results demonstrated
that surfactant molecular properties including hydrophobic–lipophilic
balance (HLB) value and partition coefficient (logP) can be used as
predictors to determine surfactant location and dictate fiber properties
in single phase and emulsion electrospinning systems.
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