Solution blow spinning of piezoelectric nanofiber mat for detecting mechanical and acoustic signals

Fibrous hydrogels by electrospinning: Novel platforms for biomedical applications

Hydrogels, hydrophilic and biocompatible polymeric networks, have been used for numerous biomedical applications because they have exhibited abilities to mimic features of extracellular matrix (ECM). In particular, the hydrogels engineered with electrospinning techniques have shown great performances in biomedical applications. Electrospinning techniques are to generate polymeric micro/nanofibers that can mimic geometries of natural ECM by drawing micro/nanofibers from polymer precursors with electrical forces, followed by structural stabilization of them. By exploiting the electrospinning techniques, the fibrous hydrogels have been fabricated and utilized as 2D/3D cell culture platforms, implantable scaffolds, and wound dressings. In addition, some hydrogels that respond to external stimuli have been used to develop biosensors. For comprehensive understanding, this review covers electrospinning processes, hydrogel precursors used for electrospinning, characteristics of fibrous hydrogels and specific biomedical applications of electrospun fibrous hydrogels and highlight their potential to promote use in biomedical applications.

Stretchable nanofibers of polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposite to support piezoelectric response via mechanical elasticity

Interest in piezoelectric nanocomposites has been vastly growing in the energy harvesting field. They are applied in wearable electronics, mechanical actuators, and electromechanical membranes. In this research work, nanocomposite membranes of different blend ratios from PVDF and TPU have been synthesized. The PVDF is responsible for piezoelectric performance where it is one of the promising polymeric organic materials containing β-sheets, to convert applied mechanical stress into electric voltage. In addition, the TPU is widely used in the plastic industry due to its superior elasticity. Our work investigates the piezoresponse analysis for different blending ratios of PVDF/TPU. It has been found that TPU blending ratios of 15–17.5% give higher output voltage at different stresses conditions along with higher piezosensitivity. Then, TPU addition with its superior mechanical elasticity can partially compensate PVDF to enhance the piezoelectric response of the PVDF/TPU nanocomposite mats. This work can help reducing the amount of added PVDF in piezoelectric membranes with enhanced piezo sensitivity and mechanical elasticity.