Electrospinning and Structure of Bicomponent Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Nanofibers Obtained Using Alternative Solvent System

Abstract

Bicomponent polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/Gt) nanofibers were successfully formed for the first time by electrospinning using a novel polymer–solvent system with solvents being alternative to the commonly used toxic solvents like fluorinated alcohols. The mixture of acetic acid (AA) with formic acid (FA; 90:10) was applied. Stable electrospinning was possible despite the fact the mixture of PCL and gelatin in AA/FA solvent showed emulsive structure. From the practical perspective, there is no doubt that it is possible to obtain PCL/Gt fibers using AA/FA mixture with morphology similar to that for fibers spun from hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) solutions.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Alternative solvents
• electrospinning
• gelatin
• nanofibers
• polycaprolactone
• structure

Notes

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