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Abstract
A novel sequential processing approach to fabricate versatile fibres containing encapsulated materials is presented. It is based on developing highly porous fibres, to be filled with functional materials and coated with protective layers. Applicability of the approach to develop porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fibres with encapsulated antibacterial salts within a coating is demonstrated. The salt was introduced to the fibre via a sacrificial solvent. Desired solvent properties to ensure successful filling was discussed. The salt was encapsulated via spray coating. The coating characteristics were tuned via vapour treatment to facilitate controllable radial salt release. Large volume axial release was also achieved due to the axial pore connectivity. Compared to state-of-the-art methods to produce fibres with functional material inclusions such as emulsion electrospinning, the method presented herein, due to its sequential processing nature, offers greater freedom in material selection and thus broad applications of the fibres.
Acknowledgements
Use of the TAMU Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) is acknowledged. The use of confocal microscopy facilities in Microscopy and Imaging Center, and the support of Dr. Stanislav Vitha are also acknowledged. The FE-SEM acquisition was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DBI-0116835. MN also acknowledges the use of start-up funds from the Department of Aerospace Engineering in establishing some of the experimental facilities.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.