Exploring wettability difference-driven wetting by utilizing electrospun chimeric Janus microfiber comprising cellulose acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Menglong; Ge, Ruiliang; Zhao, Ping; Williams, Gareth R.; Yu, Deng-Guang; Bligh, S.W. Annie
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 226(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Tri-fluid electrospinning -- Chimeric Janus microfiber -- Wettability -- Drug release -- Hydrophobic difference; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2023.111652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Through a special designed spinneret, tri-fluid side-by-side electrospinning process was conducted and chimeric Janus microfiber was obtained. The first electrospun microfiber with wettability difference surface was used to explore the wetting process. The wettability difference-driven water motion provided another wetting mechanism except for water absorbance. By fitting four models, drug release profiles showed that they were electrospun microfiber-based sustained drug release systems. Abstract: In exploring the difference in the wettability of fibers with various structures, three inner constructions of fibers, namely, uniaxial, Janus and chimeric Janus, have been fabricated by electrospinning. In electrospun fibers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and cellulose acetate were used as a polymer matrix and ketoprofen was used as a model drug. Morphologies and inner structures were respectively investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Physical states and compatibilities of materials were detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Water contact angle (WCA) tests were conducted to determine the difference between wettability and wetting time among assorted fiber membranes. Results showed that the wettability gradient could drive water movement and wetting, which resulted in the rapid decrease of the WCA, to prepare Janus and chimeric Janus fiber membranes compared with uniaxial fiber membranes. Otherwise, in vitro drug release experiments were carried out and four fitting models were applied in matching release profiles. The results showed that electrospun fiber membranes belonged to sustained-release systems and such membranes were influenced by drug diffusion and backbone corrosion effects. In this study, whether electrospun multilayer Janus fibers could affect wettability and drug release was investigated.