Electrospinning represent a “classic” technique to obtain micrometer and sub micrometer fibers for a wide range of applications. The technique is relatively simple and allows the preparation of industrial amounts of material with low cost. A polymer solution droplet is exposed to an intense electric field which leads to the formation of a jet and further to a very thin fiber of the polymer.
Functionalization represents a step which can tremendously increase the range of applications of these thin fibers. Therefore our aim was to test several paths towards new and more complex architectures. In the present report we will describe our work regarding functionalized biocompatible fiber arrays based on a set of preparation methods which start with electrospinning. In order to achieve the desired functionality sputtering of a thin metal layer leads to conductive fibers. We used these as working electrodes for electrochemical deposition and the fibers were covered with polymers such as polyaniline[1,2] or with ZnO. The sequence of steps enabled us to obtain mats with either electroactive properties or with photocatalytic activity. Both these properties are very interesting for applications ranging from artificial muscles to substrates with antimicrobial activity. The straightforward, scalable methods of fabrication make the approach a very interesting one for lucrative applications.
[1] M. Beregoi, C. Busuioc, A. Evanghelidis, E. Matei, F. Iordache, M. Radu, et al., Electrochromic properties of polyaniline-coated fiber webs for tissue engineering applications, Int. J. Pharm. (2015). doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.11.055.
[2] M. Beregoi, A. Evanghelidis, E. Matei, I. Enculescu, Polyaniline based microtubes as building-blocks for artificial muscle applications, Sensors Actuators, B Chem. 253 (2017). doi:10.1016/j.snb.2017.06.128.
