Processing parameters for electrospun poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) nanofibers and photo-mediated crosslinking of modified PVA nanofibers

摘要

Electrospinning is a convenient and cost effective method to produce ultra-fine polymer fibers [1-7]. Among a wide spectrum of electrospinnable polymers, PVA is of particular interest due to many advantageous properties, e.g. water-solubility, hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and facile modification of its pendant hydroxyl groups. However, for the applications of PVA nanofibers in many applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery etc. [8], it is necessary to crosslink PVA to obtain water-stable PVA nanofibers. Wnek et al utilized a physical method to stabilize electrospun PVA fibers [9].