Nanofiber Architectures: Tailoring Structure and Function

The creation and study of nanofibers have gotten a lot of interest because they have special features and could be used in many areas, such as biomedical engineering, filtration, and composite materials. Electrospinning and self-assembly are the two main ways to make nanofibers. Each has its own benefits when it comes to controlling the fiber’s shape and chemical makeup.

Electrospinning is a common method that uses a strong electric field to spin polymer solutions or melts into very thin strands with diameters in the nanometer range. This technique makes it possible to make long nanofibers with a lot of surface area compared to volume, which is very important for uses like tissue engineering and drug transport (Leung & Ko, 2010; Wang et al., 2015). You can improve the electrospinning process by changing things like the solution viscosity, the strength of the electric field, and the distance between the collectors. These changes have a direct effect on the shape and mechanical qualities of the nanofibers that are made (Pan et al., 2010; Qiang et al., 2013). For example, aligning nanofibers during electrospinning can make their mechanical qualities better. This has been shown by studies that show big increases in tensile strength and modulus for structures that are aligned (Hooshmand et al., 2015; Sensini et al., 2021).

On the other hand, self-assembly is when molecules arrange themselves into ordered patterns on their own, without any help from outside sources. This method works great for making nanofibers from biopolymers like chitin and cellulose, which can then be changed to make them more useful (Ifuku & Saimoto, 2012; Ifuku et al., 2011). Surface functionalization methods, like adding nanoparticles or changing the chemicals, can change the nanofibers’ features even more, making them better at being biocompatible and strong (Bocková et al., 2022; Tanaka et al., 2017). A good example is adding magnetic nanoparticles to polymer nanofibers has been shown to make them more useful for drug transport and cleaning up the environment (Tanaka et al., 2017).

Morphological control techniques are very important for figuring out how well nanofibers work and how strong their structures are. Some of the most important things that determine the mechanical qualities of nanofibers are their diameter, porosity, and alignment. Research has shown that a smaller fiber diameter means a bigger surface area. This can make it easier for the fiber to connect with living tissues in biomedical settings (Zakaria & Nakane, 2019; Misslitz et al., 2012). Additionally, the porosity of nanofiber mats can be changed to achieve the desired filter rates, as higher porosity usually means better particle capture (Misslitz et al., 2012; Selatile et al., 2021).

To understand how nanofibers’ structure and properties are related, we need to use advanced characterization methods. Some tools, like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), help us understand the shape of nanofibers. Other tools, like mechanical testing, check their tensile strength and elasticity (Conte et al., 2020; Nakashima et al., 2011). Also, thermal analysis methods like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are used to check how stable and how quickly nanofibers break down at high temperatures, which is important for their use in those conditions (Tian & He, 2022; Aduba et al., 2013).

Creating and studying nanofibers through electrospinning and self-assembly is a flexible way to make materials with specific qualities that can be used in a wide range of situations. The way that morphological control, chemical composition, and advanced characterization methods work together is a key part of improving the performance of nanofibers and making them more useful in areas like medicine, filtration, and environmental science.

References

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