Polyelectrolyte Functionalization of Electrospun Fibers

Abstract

We report the layer-by-layer (LbL) surface functionalization of high aspect ratio (>100000:1) polystyrene (PS) electrospun fibers (ESFs) of various diameters (400 nm or 1.5 µm) with polyelectrolytes (PEs), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides, and PE/gold nanoparticle (Au NP ) composite layers. ESFs were coated with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) multilayers, the thickness of which was controlled by adjusting the number of PE layers deposited. PAH/PSS multilayer buildup was demonstrated by dissolving the inner PS fibers with tetrahydrofuran, resulting in the formation of hollow PAH/PSS fibers. DNA multilayer coated ESFs were also prepared using oligonucleotides with repeating blocks of adenosine and guanosine (polyA 15 G 15 ) and thymidine and cytidine (polyT 15 C 15 ). The polyT 15 C 15 was labeled with tetramethylrhodamine. Linear DNA multilayer buildup on the ESFs was observed through an increase in fluorescence intensity using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Finally, nanocomposite PE/gold fibers were prepared by immersing the PAH/PSS-coated PS fibers into a dispersion of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine-stabilized Au NP . This resulted in a dense packing of Au NP in the PE film localized on the PS fiber surface. These fibers have potential application in sensing, filtration, and catalysis and as release materials in medicine and agriculture.

Electrospinning of Manmade and Biopolymer Nanofibers—Progress in Techniques, Materials, and Applications

“…It is for this reason that the conventional electrospinning approach has been modified toward the ''tubes by fiber templates'' (TUFT) approach. [50][51][52][53][54][55] To obtain core-shell fibers or hollow fibers, an electrospun nanofiber serves as a template onto which a second material is deposited as shell either from solution or melt, via layer by layer techniques, or from the vapor phase. It is frequently preferable to apply the shell from the vapor phase rather than from a fluid phase that may give rise to mechanical forces causing a disruption of the tiny template fibers, to an inhomogeneous coating, or to a swelling of the template disturbing the its original dimensions.…”

“…It should finally been pointed out that a coaxial jet generation has been considered previously in the context of electrospraying of compound droplets. [55] …”

Bioinspired Porous Hybrid Materials via Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly

“…They also have much larger inner surface areas compared with hollow spheres of the same diameter, rendering them superior in terms of loading capacity for guest molecules [115,116]. Several approaches have been developed to prepare nanotubes of various compositions and morphologies using nanorods [117], nanofibers [118], and porous membranes as templates [60][61][62][63]. The LbL assembly technique has proven to be an efficient method to control the thickness, composition, and functionalization of nanotubes.…”

Design, synthesis and RAFT polymerisation of a quinoline-based monomer for use in metal-binding composite microfibers

“…21 Furthermore, simple fabrication and solvent compatibility with various materials has allowed subsequent layer-by-layer functionalisation of the PS fibres with polyelectrolytes, deoxyribonucleic acids and composite polymer/nanoparticle layers to obtain hollow composite fibres. 22 Another advantage of electrospun PS fibres is that the polymer solutions can be loaded with various additives and components. Additives such as cellulose, sisal or single-walled carbon nanotubes have been used to improve the mechanical properties of the fibres.…”