Zein/Cellulose Acetate Hybrid Nanofibers: Electrospinning and Characterization

Zein/Cellulose Acetate Hybrid Nanofibers: Electrospinning and Characterization

Protein based scaffolds are preferred for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications owing totheir unique properties. Zein, a hydrophobic protein, is a promising natural biodegradable polymer. However, electrospunstructures prepared from Zein have poor mechanical and wetting properties. Cellulose acetate (CA) is aneconomical, biodegradable polymer having good mechanical and water retention properties. The aim of presentstudy was to fabricate a novel material by electrospinning Zein/CA blends. A series of Zein/CA hybrid nanofiberswere electrospun and characterized. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATRFTIR)spectrum showed the characteristic peaks of both Zein and CA, and was composition dependent. The X-rayphotoelectron spectrometry (XPS) curves of Zein/CA blends demonstrated a similar profile to that of pristine Zeinnanofibers. Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) studies confirmed that the Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have a higherdegradation temperature and better thermal stability than pristine Zein nanofibers. The glass transition temperature(Tg) of Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers was also increased in comparison to pure Zein nanofibers as revealed by differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC). Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have hydrophilic surface character as revealed bywater contact angle (WCA) analysis. SEM imaging showed bead free morphology of the electrospun nanofibers. The average nanofiber diameter decreased for Zein/CA blends with increasing CA composition. The electrospunZein/CA hybrid nanofibers may be used for tissue engineering scaffolds and for other biomedical materials.

Protein based scaffolds are preferred for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications owing totheir unique properties. Zein, a hydrophobic protein, is a promising natural biodegradable polymer. However, electrospunstructures prepared from Zein have poor mechanical and wetting properties. Cellulose acetate (CA) is aneconomical, biodegradable polymer having good mechanical and water retention properties. The aim of presentstudy was to fabricate a novel material by electrospinning Zein/CA blends. A series of Zein/CA hybrid nanofiberswere electrospun and characterized. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATRFTIR)spectrum showed the characteristic peaks of both Zein and CA, and was composition dependent. The X-rayphotoelectron spectrometry (XPS) curves of Zein/CA blends demonstrated a similar profile to that of pristine Zeinnanofibers. Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) studies confirmed that the Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have a higherdegradation temperature and better thermal stability than pristine Zein nanofibers. The glass transition temperature(Tg) of Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers was also increased in comparison to pure Zein nanofibers as revealed by differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC). Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have hydrophilic surface character as revealed bywater contact angle (WCA) analysis. SEM imaging showed bead free morphology of the electrospun nanofibers. The average nanofiber diameter decreased for Zein/CA blends with increasing CA composition. The electrospunZein/CA hybrid nanofibers may be used for tissue engineering scaffolds and for other biomedical materials.