Research goal:

            The research goal of this work is to elaborate production methods of fibrous materials from nano- and micro-fibres by electrospinning technique from  solutions of biodegradable polymers
(including medical purity) for the production of medical products.

Technology and polymer feedstocks:

Nowadays electrospinning is the most effective and most often used technology of the production of nano-fibres from polymer solutions. Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres for a few years has been conducting research concerning the usage of this technology to obtain various forms of materials from nano- and micro-fibres, mainly from chitosan (also alginate, starch, collagen) and from synthetic polymers of medical purity as PLA and co-PLA (Böringer’s Resomers). Apparatus that is used for electrospinning is the laboratory equipment which is the Institute’s own technical solution that enables the production or modification of materials in form of sheets sized 20cm x 20cm and 20cm x 50cm. Production of these materials requires preparation of applicable spinning solutions with  polymer concentration typically in the range 2 - 10 wt%. Solvents such as water, acids, chloroform, DMSO and others are usually used for this. Due to special requirements which are the effect of medical applications, produced materials are often subjected to additional processes in order to give them their final form. They are also subjected to mechanical examination as well as to various biological and chemical examinations which define level of their purity. In the final stage these materials have to be subjected to sterilization, mostly sterilization by radiation.

Produced fibrous materials – application directions:

    implants’ modification (surgical meshes, vascular prosthesis, polyurethane wound dressing sponges, substructures of modified bacterial cellulose) – one-sided covering of permanent implants’ surface with layer of biodegradable nano-fibres in order to obtain biocompatible and biostimulative character for wound healing acceleration. In case of some implantable materials the other side is left in “slipping” form, which protects the organism from fusing an implant and the treated organ.

    wound dressings in form of self-supporting fibrous coatings

    culture substrates for cell cultures

We are extending given directions to new 2D forms with aligned fibres, and also we are trying to produce nano-fibrous 3D objects. We would like to add collagen, alginate or starch to biodegradable polymers that we already use: chitosan, PLA and co-PLA.

Why nano-fibres?  

  The results of numerous world news report that living cells proliferate much better in contact with nano-fibres than in contact with the surface of much thicker textile fibres. As the porosity of nano-fibrous wound dressing materials is small, they create a barrier for pathogensenabling at the same time an air access to the surface of the wound. Such materials in form of coating covering implants of thicker and mechanically stronger structure, can also biologically enrich the surface of the implants or they can seal the implants to prevent outflow of blood components from vascular prosthesis. We have here ability to influence the structural features of nanofibers and a wide range of polymer materials and the technique of manufacture from polymer solutions enables on the introduction of nano-sized functional additives, which preferably modify the fiber material or as a result of release them to organism, creates the environment with favorable conditions to assist the healing process. Some fibrous structures can be obtained in forms similar to natural tissues occurring in living organisms (biomimetics).

Figures:

Nanofibrous scaffold from  chitosan / PEO composite in a state of high flexibility in the wet environment.	Zdjęcie SEM  powłoki okrywającej implant  z nano i mikrowłókien PLA	Laboratory installation for electrospinning nanofibers from polymer solutions.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/28429 must be provided.

1.  Utilization of biomass for preparation of environment-friendly materials
2. Bio-based nanofibres - manufacture, processing and practical application
3. Nano i mikro materiały włókniste z przeznaczeniem dla medycyny i filtracji.