Coaxial electrospinning for the reinforcement of nanofibre mats

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Styrene -N-(N',N'-dimethyl-3-aminopropyl)maleimide copolymer (SMI-P) was prepared by treating styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) with N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropylamine (DMAPA). The SMI-P copolymer was fully characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Thereafter the polymer was co-electrospun with nylon 6 to produce fibres with core-shell morphology. The core-shell morphology was expected to provide a stronger fibre system for application in water filtration. Core-shell fibres of poly(styrene-co-N-(N',N'-dimethyl-3-aminopropyl) maleimide) (SMI-P) (shell) and nylon 6 (core) were produced through the coaxial electrospinning technique. The fabricated fibres were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and Confocal Microscopy (CM) to provide evidence of the core-shell structure formation. Dissolution tests were also carried out in order to provide further certainty that the core-shell morphology was formed. The dip coating technique was evaluated as a second route towards the formation of coaxial fibres. Mechanical tests were performed on both the core-shell fibres and the coated fibres as well as pristine SMI-P fibres to confirm reinforcement of the fibre mats. Antimicrobial tests were performed on the fabricated fibres via two techniques namely the diffusion disc and live/dead fluorescence methods. Both methods were performed on the samples to determine if the SMI-P retained its antimicrobial activity even after fibre reinforcement. The fibres were found to be potent against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University