In this work, a PDMS spinning technique is developed and enables the continuous production of a filament with a circular cross-section (~500 μm diameter). The production of continuous silicone polymer filaments can be useful in the textile field to provide new properties in applications such as weaving, knitting or composite reinforcement. The method involves injecting the pre-polymer and curing agent mixture into a heated oil bath (202–215 °C) to simultaneously shape and cure the PDMS. The morphological and mechanical properties of the filament are studied regarding the production parameters (formulation, needle diameter, bath temperature, conveyor belt speed). The most homogeneous filament is produced at the highest temperature (215°C) and conveyor belt speed (13.6 m∙min^–1). When subjected to cyclic mechanical stress, the PDMS filament produced exhibits stable mechanical behavior, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Electrospun (e-spun) nanofiber materials have emerged as a prominent research focus owing to their extensive and promising potential applications across biomedical, energy, and environmental domains. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a commonly used polymer for electrospinning (e-spinning). Due to insufficient hydrophilic properties of nitrile groups of PAN, its e-spun nonwoven membranes had low water absorption and moisture absorption, which limited application in medical and health fields. In this study, it was investigated that the hydrophilic modification of e-spun PAN nanofiber membrane (NFM) was conducted via Ritter reaction to convert nitrile groups into hydrophilic amide ones, thereby improving the hydrophilicity of PAN NFMs. The surface morphologies and structure of the modified e-spun fibers were characterized and verified by SEM, FTIR and XPS. After 60–90 min of Ritter reaction, the fiber diameter of the PAN NFM became thicker, transforming from a hydrophobic membrane to a hydrophilic one, and the water contact angle decreased from 124.2 to 40.7°. The amidated PAN obtained membrane was post-treatment with sodium hypochlorite to make some amide groups change to N-halamine, which took the PAN NFM antibacterial activity or bacteriostasis. This work suggested a strategy that the espun PAN NFMs modified would have a promising application in medical dressings, air filtration, etc.

This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.

Appropriate protection and guiding are crucial during peripheral nerves repair. New generation nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) should not only provide mechanical support for the damaged nerve but also support healing processes. One of the most promising tissue regeneration applications is fibrous biomaterials since they are characterized by high porosity, flexibility, and strength. Additionally, they enable cell adhesion and proliferation. In this study, novel fibrous nanocomposites were obtained by applying the electrospinning technique, using polylactic acid (PLA) as a polymeric matrix which was further modified with metallic nanoparticles coated with conductive polymers. Such an approach resulted in the obtainment of biomaterials with a potential ability to conduct nerve impulses. The chemical structure of the obtained composites, as well as the morphology of ready products and separate nanocomponents, were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. Furthermore, conductive and swelling properties in various media were determined. Finally, biomaterials were confirmed to be non-cytotoxic to L929 mouse fibroblasts and 1321N1 human glial cells. Based on the presented results, it can be concluded that nanofibrous nerve guidance conduits have all the key properties in the process of peripheral nerve regeneration and may constitute an important step in novel NGCs development.

Nanomaterials, particularly nanofibers produced through electrospinning, have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties and diverse applications. This research explores the influence of collector design, electrode geometry, and collector speed on the properties of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to simulate electric fields, revealing the impact of collector geometry on field intensity. The experimental setup, enclosed in an isolated chamber, employed various collector types and electrode configurations. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showcased the effect of collector speed on fiber alignment and diameter. Furthermore, FEA simulations elucidated the role of electrode geometry and voltage in shaping the electric field, impacting fiber properties. The study introduces a novel, in-house method for producing highly aligned nanofibers and provides insights into optimizing electrospinning parameters for enhanced fiber properties. A testing protocol is devised to minimize surface damage when conducting mechanical tests on nanofiber films, employing a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Mechanical testing demonstrated the correlation between alignment and tensile strength. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights for tailoring electrospinning processes for tissue engineering and energy storage.