Electrospinning of polymer nanofibers with specific surface chemistry

Electrospinning is a process by which sub-micron polymer fibers can be prod uced using an electrostatically driven jet of polymer solution (or polymer melt). Electrospun textiles are of interest in a wide variety of applicatio ns including semi-permeable membranes, filters, composite applications, and as scaffolding for tissue engineering. The goal of the research presented here is to demonstrate that it is possible to produce sub-micron fibers wit h a specific surface chemistry through electrospinning. This has been accom plished by electrospinning a series of random copolymers of PMMA-r-TAN from a mixed solvent of toluene and dimethyl formamide. X-ray Photoelectron Spe ctroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that the atomic percentage of fluorine in th e near surface region of the electrospun fibers is about double the atomic percentage of fluorine found in a bulk sample of the random copolymer, as d etermined by elemental analysis. These results are in good agreement with X PS and water contact angle results obtained from thin films of the same cop olymer materials. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.