Novel electrospun nanofibers composed of polyelectrolyte complexes

摘要

A simple method to obtain novel nanofibers composed of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) has been proposed. It consists of the electrospinning of a mixed homogeneous solution of polyelectrolyte partners, and the formation of PEC during the electrospinning. This was achieved by careful choice of the composition of the spinning solutions. Chitosan was the polycationic partner, with either a weak polyacid poly(acrylic acid), PAA as a counterpart or a strong one poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid), PAMPS. The fibrous mats were composed of nanofibers with mean diameters of ca. 100 nm. They retained their integrity over the pH range which is typical of the corresponding PEC.