Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Poly(Urethane)/Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride‐co‐Hexafluoropropylene) Blends into Highly Hydrophobic Electrospun Fibers with Reduced Protein Adsorption Profiles

Abstract

Electrospinning of blend systems, combining two or more polymers, has gained increasing interest for the fabrication of fibers that combine properties of the individual polymers. Here, a versatile method to produce hydrophobic fibers composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDFhfp) and polyurethane (PUR) is presented. PVDFhfp containing fibers are expected to reduce protein adsorption. In a one‐step process, blend solutions are electrospun into homogeneous nonwoven membranes with fiber diameters in the range of 0.6 ± 0.2 to 1.4 ± 0.7 µm. Surface fluorine concentrations measured by X‐ray photospectroscopy show an asymptotic dependency in function of the PVDFhfp to PUR ratio, reaching values close to pure PVDFhfp at a weight per weight ratio of 10% PVDFhfp to 90% PUR. This fluorine enrichment on the surface suggests a gradient structure along the fiber cross‐section. At increased surface fluorine concentration, the contact angle changes from 121 ± 3° (PUR) to 141 ± 4° (PUR/PVDFhfp). Furthermore, these highly hydrophobic fibers present significantly reduced fibrinogen or albumin adsorption compared to PUR membranes.

Structural insights into semicrystalline states of electrospun nanofibers: a multiscale analytical approach

“…1 and described elsewhere. 43 In short, PVDFhfp (M w : 400 000) was dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) in a concentration of 35% w/v. The solution was filled in a 3 ml syringe (B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) equipped with a blunt 21 G needle.…”

“…This fluorinated copolymer has been used in the production of semi-permeable membranes and also various biomedical applications due to its high biocompatibility. [43][44][45][46] We report a comprehensive roadmap, in which the scattering and diffraction methods and their relevant theories have been used and applied for a detailed understanding of the nanostructure inside and at the surface of semicrystalline electrospun nanofibers. In particular, we used globally simulated 1D-SAXS profiles in horizontal and vertical alignment directions to obtain structural insights and surface morphology variations on aligned and non-aligned electrospun nanofibers.…”

Supramolecular Antifouling Additives for Robust and Efficient Functionalization of Elastomeric Materials: Molecular Design Matters

“…Besides covalent strategies functional antifouling additives can be simply mixed with base polymers to create biomaterials with antifouling properties. The antifouling function is introduced either via hydrophilic compounds, such as poly and oligo(ethylene glycols), or via hydrophobic fluorinated groups . Interactions of such additives with the base material are important to ensure both robust incorporation and functionality through sufficient surface exposure of the functional groups.…”

Bioresponsive Hybrid Nanofibers Enable Controlled Drug Delivery through Glass Transition Switching at Physiological Temperature

“…The electrospinning setup was equipped with a syringe pump (KD Scientific, MA, U.S.A.), a high-voltage power supply (AIP Wild AG, Switzerland), and a planar stainless steel collector placed inside a Faraday cage in a chemical hood as previously reported. , The solutions were loaded into plastic syringes fitted with a metallic needle (inner diameter of 0.8 mm). During the spinning process, the applied voltage and a tip-to-collector distance were 18 kV and 15 cm, while the flow rate was kept at 1 mL·h –1 .…”