Coaxial Electrospinning: Jet Motion, Core–Shell Fiber Morphology, and Structure as a Function of Material Parameters

Abstract

Two core–shell-structured polystyrene/poly­(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PS/PVP) and PVP/PS composite fibers were prepared via coaxial electrospinning in this study. Different concentrations of PVP solutions with a variety of viscosities and conductivities were adopted in the experiment. The influences of both viscosity and conductivity on the Taylor cone, jet motion, morphology, and internal structure of the resultant core–shell fiber were investigated in a comprehensive and systematic manner. As shown in the images of Taylor cone and jet motion, which were captured by a high-speed camera, different PVP concentrations in the core and shell would result in different core and shell thicknesses as well as distinct jet motion patterns including straight jet length, envelop angle, and frequency of whipping process, thus obtaining the core–shell fibers with different diameters. Not only jet motion and Taylor cone but also the polymer solution concentration and the role of PVP in core and shell have a tremendous influence on the morphology and the internal structure of the resultant core–shell fiber. Additionally, the formation mechanisms of PS/PVP and PVP/PS fibers were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The experimental results provide a basis for further design and optimization of processing conditions, so as to control the nanostructure of core–shell composite fibers.

Co-Axial Fibers with Janus-Structured Sheaths by Electrospinning Release Corn Peptides for Wound Healing

“…39,40 Moreover, compared with that of the traditional co-axial electrospun fibers, the collapse of the fiber network in this study would not occur when the hydrophilic part of PVP dissolved completely. 41,42 It was related to PCL being located at the continuous site of the fiber sheath, and it would not be completely degraded in the period.…”

Texturing Hierarchical Tissues by Gradient Assembling of Microengineered Platelet‐Lysates Activated Fibers

“…[ 14 ] However, besides the inherent complexity associated with its setup, several parameters, including apparatus design, flow rate of the inner and outer solutions, as well as their viscoelasticity and interfacial tension, need to be considered since they can affect the entrainment and production of required core‐shell fiber morphology. [ 15 ] Alternatively, emulsion electrospinning has gained attention as a suitable substitute to overcome these problems, especially using water‐in‐oil (W/O) emulsions. Under electric force, the emulsion containing the polymeric solution and the water phase made of sub‐ to micron‐spheres is elongated and converted into core‐shell structure fibers, [ 16 ] enabling an easy and continuous incorporation of biomolecules into electrospun fibers core.…”

Preparation and characterization of PGS/PLLA@PNIPAM core-shell nanofiber membrane by electrospinning and surface ATRP grafting

“…Among them, the core-shell nanofibers have novel structures and important applications due to combining the advantages of the inner and outer layer materials. The traditional methods for preparing core-shell nanofibers include coaxial electrospinning, 12 in situ growth 13 and the surface polymerization. 14,15 Among them, the method of grafting on the nanofiber surface has a good prospect in the field of drug carrier control and release.…”