A direct-electrospinning process by combined electric field and air-blowing system for nanofibrous wound-dressings

Abstract

An electrospinning process has been introduced to fabricate micro/nanofiber membranes having high porosity and specific surface area. When constantly/uniformly depositing the micro/nanofiber membrane on a target, the electrospun fibers require flushing out of the high charge and excessive remaining solvent built up, since these factors can interrupt the constant deposition rate of the electrospun fibers on substrates. These limitations can be overcome with a direct-electrospinning process, which can lower the charges of the electrospun fibers through a window of guiding electrodes and remaining solvent of the electrospun fibers during the spinning process by an air-blowing system. Because of the reduced charge accumulation of the electrospun fibers, the micro/nanofibers can be deposited on any kind of target, which may be a conductive or a non-conductive material. The fabricated membrane had a dramatically reduced charge, remaining solvent concentration, sufficient tensile modulus, and small pore-size distribution. To observe the possibility as a biomedical wound-dressing material, a bacteria-shielding test of the fabricated membrane was conducted.