Degradation Behavior of Electrospun PLA and PLA/CNT Nanofibres in Aqueous Environment

Abstract

The aim of the work was to compare the degradation behavior of electrospun nanofibres obtained from pure poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous environment. The nanofibres in the form of mats were manufactured using the electrospinning technique (ES) with potential biomedical application. To investigate the degradation behavior, onecomponent and composite (containing CNTs) nanofibres were compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. The changes in their morphology, structure, and selected physical and mechanical properties during incubation up to 14 days were analysed. Two types of CNTs differing in concentration of surface functional groups were used to modify the PLA nanofibres. PLA and composite nanofibres (PLA + CNT) during incubation underwent swelling and partial degradation due to the penetration of water into polymer matrix. Changes in the mechanical properties of composite mats were higher than those observed for pure PLA mats. After 14-day incubation, samples retained from 47 to 78% of their initial tensile strength, higher for PLA samples. Morphological changes in pure PLA nanofibres were more dynamic than in composite nanofibres. No significant changes in crystallinity, wettability, and porosity of the samples occurred.

The effect of surface modification of poly‐lactide‐co‐glycolide/carbon nanotube nanofibrous scaffolds by laminin protein on nerve tissue engineering

“…The results of degradation are consistent with similar studies on PLA/CNT scaffolds which reported that during incubation in aqueous media a progressive increase in the mean diameter of nanofibers can be seen (Magiera, Markowski, Pilch, & Blazewicz, 2018). Comparing the four samples after 28 days revealed that deformation of scaffolds in laminin modified scaffolds seems more.…”

pH-Responsive Resveratrol-Loaded Electrospun Membranes for the Prevention of Implant-Associated Infections

“…As reported in literature, soaking of the nanofibers allows the water molecules to penetrate into the fiber interior, resulting in the swelling process. Remarkably, acidic conditions significantly enhance the ability of water to penetrate the polymer, giving rise to a higher swelling ratio [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Effectiveness of the preparation of maleic anhydride grafted poly (lactic acid) by reactive processing for poly (lactic acid)/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

“…First, PLA and PLA-g-MA were dried at 60 C in a vacuum oven for 12 h before the extrusion process. PLA/PLA-g-MA/ CNT nanocomposites with different contents of PLA-g-MA (0, 1 and 3 wt%) and 1 wt% of CNT 40,41 were processed using an AX Plásticos, model AX16:40DR corotational twin-screw extruder using a temperature profile of 165, 170, 170, 170 and165 C from the first section to the die, with a screw rotation speed of 120 rpm and feeding of 30 rpm. The nanocomposites were pelletized and dried at 60 C in a vacuum oven for 12 h.…”