Fabrication and Characterization of Lignin/Dendrimer Electrospun Blended Fiber Mats

Abstract

Blending lignin as the second most abundant polymer in nature with nanostructured compounds such as dendritic polymers will not only add value to lignin, but also increase its application in various fields. In this study, softwood Kraft lignin/polyamidoamine dendritic polymer (PAMAM) blends were fabricated by solution electrospinning method to produce bead-free nanofiber mats. The mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), zeta potential, and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The chemical intermolecular interactions between lignin functional groups and abundant amino groups in PAMAM were investigated by FTIR and viscosity measurement. These interactions enhanced the mechanical and thermal characteristics of lignin/PAMAM mats, providing further potential applications at industry level.

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“…The fibre properties of this composite material and its fibre surface characteristics, such as surface energy, make it an extremely interesting candidate for the development of a fibre material for controlled drug delivery. Electrospun softwood kraft lignin/polyamidoamine dendrite (PAMAM) polymer blends exhibited strong interaction between the phenolic groups of lignin with the amino groups of PAMAM [101]. This not only improved the mechanical and thermal properties of the mats, but also enhanced adhesion to the profile required for a drug release material.…”