Novel highly aligned, double-layered, hollow fibrous polycarbonate membranes with a perfectly tightly packed pentagonal pore structure fabricated using the electrospinning process. Issue 108 (19th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yun-Shao; Kuo, Chi-Ching; Huang, Chun-Chun; Jang, Shin-Cheng; Tsen, Wen-Chin; Chuang, Fu-Sheng; Chen, Bo-Yu; Chen, Jiun-Jen; Chow, Jing-Dong; Shu, Yao-Chi
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 108(2015)
• Page Start: 88857
• Page End: 88865
• Publication Date: 2015-10-19
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra14447g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Highly aligned, tightly packed, single-, double-, and mixed-layer polycarbonate (PC) hollow fibrous membranes were prepared using two-fluid coaxial electrospinning. Abstract : Highly aligned, tightly packed, single-, double-, and mixed-layer polycarbonate (PC) hollow fibrous membranes were prepared using two-fluid coaxial electrospinning. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was used as the core, and PC was used as the shell; the PEO was subsequently extracted. The effects of the polymer concentration and spinning voltage on the morphologies and mechanical properties of the membranes were explored. At a PC concentration of 20 wt% and voltage of 8 kV, a hollow fibrous membrane (PC20-8 ) with a perfectly packed double-layered structure, high alignment of 97%, and distinct pentagonal pores (different from the typical quadrangle pore structure) was prepared. This membrane had the highest Young's modulus and tensile strain, 1.8 GPa and 700%, respectively. The observed results suggest that highly aligned hollow fibrous membranes with favorable mechanical properties, particularly PC20-8, have potential for application in guide conduits for nerves, vascular scaffolds, and biomedical devices.