Electrospun cellulose acetate fibers for the photodecolorization of methylene blue solutions under natural sunlight

Development of environmentally friendly catalyst Ag-ZnO@cellulose acetate derived from discarded cigarette butts for reduction of organic dyes and its antibacterial applications

The release of harmful organic dyes from different industries besides its degradation products is a major contributor to environmental contamination. The catalytic reduction of these organic pollutants using nanocomposites based on polymeric material presents potential advantages for the environment. In this study, novel nanocomposite based on cellulose acetate (CA)-derived from discharged cigarette butts and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was prepared utilizing a very simple and low-cost solution blending method and used as support for silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). A simple reduction method was used to anchor different percentages of Ag NPs on the ZnO@CA nanocomposite surface via utilizing sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The Ag-ZnO@CA nanocomposite was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The TEM analysis showed spherical Ag NPs, with an average diameter of ∼17.6 nm, were uniformly anchored on the ZnO@CA nanocomposite surface. The prepared nanocomposites were evaluated as catalysts for the reduction of organic dyes in water. It was found that 10 % Ag-ZnO@CA nanocomposite showed a remarkable reduction of Rhodamine B (RhB), Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), Methylene Blue (MB), and Sunset Yellow (SY) dyes in short time. In the presence of this nanocomposite, the rate constant, kapp values for RhB, Rh6G, MB, and SY were 0.3498 min-1, 1.51 min-1, 0.2292 min-1, and 0.733 min-1, respectively. This nanocomposite was recovered and reused in five successive cycles, with a negligible loss of its activity. Furthermore, the nanocomposites demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Thus, this study directed attention on recycling of waste material to a valuable nanocomposite and its applications in environmental protection.

Aloe vera mucilage loaded gelatin electrospun fibers contained in polylactic acid coaxial system and polylactic acid and poly(e-caprolactone) tri-layer membranes for tissue engineering

BACKGROUND

Polymeric electrospun mats have been used as scaffolds in tissue engineering for the development of novel materials due to its characteristics. The usage of synthetic materials has gone in decline due to environmental problems associated with their synthesis and waste disposal. Biomaterials such as biopolymers have been used recently due to good compatibility on biological applications and sustainability.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work is to obtain novel materials based on synthetic and natural polymers for applications on tissue engineering.

METHODS

Aloe vera mucilage was obtained, chemically characterized, and used as an active compound contained in electrospun mats. Polymeric scaffolds were obtained in single, coaxial and tri-layer structures, characterized and evaluated in cell culture.

RESULTS

Mucilage loaded electrospun fibers showed good compatibility due to formation of hydrogen bonds between polymers and biomolecules from its structure, evidenced by FTIR spectra and thermal properties. Cell viability test showed that most of the obtained mats result on viability higher than 75%, resulting in nontoxic materials, ready to be used on scaffolding applications.

CONCLUSION

Mucilage containing fibers resulted on materials with potential use on scaffolding applications due to their mechanical performance and cell viability results.

Facile Coaxial Electrospinning Synthesis of Polyacrylonitrile/Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Membrane for Oil-Water Separations

Oil-contaminated water and industrial oily wastewater discharges have adversely affected aquatic ecosystems and human safety. Membrane separation technology offers a promising solution for effective oil-water separation. Thus, a membrane with high surface area, hydrophilic-oleophobic properties, and stability is a promising candidate. Electrospinning, a straightforward and efficient process, produces highly porous polymer-based membranes with a vast surface area and stability. The main objective of this study is to produce hydrophilic-oleophobic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers using core-shell electrospinning. Incorporating CA into the shell of the nanofibers enhances the wettability. The core PAN polymer improves the electrospinning process and contributes to the hydrophilicity-oleophobicity of the produced nanofibers. The PAN/CA nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and surface-wetting behavior. The resulting PAN/cellulose nanofibers exhibited significantly improved surface-wetting properties, demonstrating super-hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, making them a promising choice for oil-water separation. Various oils, including gasoline, diesel, toluene, xylene, and benzene, were employed in the preparation of oil-water mixture solutions. The utilization of PAN/CA nanofibers as a substrate proved to be highly efficient, confirming exceptional separation efficiency, remarkable stability, and prolonged durability. The current work introduces an innovative single-step fabrication method of composite nanofibers, specially designed for efficient oil-water separation. This technology exhibits significant promise for deployment in challenging situations, offering excellent reusability and a remarkable separation efficiency of nearly 99.9%.

Piezoelectric-based bioactive zinc oxide-cellulose acetate electrospun mats for efficient wound healing: an in vitro insight

Being a complex physiological process involving the removal of damaged tissue debris and creating a new microenvironment for host tissue regeneration, wound healing is still a major challenge for healthcare professionals. Disruption of this process can lead to tissue inflammation, pathogenic infections, and scar formation. Current wound healing treatments primarily focus on passive tissue healing, lacking active engagement in the healing process. In recent years, a new class of functional biomaterials based on piezoelectric properties has emerged, which can actively participate in the wound healing process by harnessing mechanical forces generated from body movement. Herein, we have fabricated a bioactive Cellulose Acetate (CA) electrospun nanofibrous mat incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) and investigated its efficiency for accelerated wound healing. We have characterized the physicochemical properties of the fabricated nanofibrous mats using various assays, including SEM, FTIR, TGA, mechanical testing, degradation analysis, porosity measurement, hemolysis assay, and piezoelectric d33 coefficient measurement. Through our investigation, we discovered the tunned piezoelectric coefficient of fabricated specimens due to incorporating ZnO into the CA fibers. In vitro studies also confirmed enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration, indicating faster wound healing potential. Overall, our findings support the efficacy of piezoelectric-based ZnO-incorporated bioactive CA nanofibrous mats for efficient wound healing.

Photocatalytic degradation of dyes by novel electrospun nanofibers: A review

Textile industry is a significant contributor of wastewater, which contains pollutants including dye and other chemical substances. The release of thousands of tons of dye used in textile processing and finishing into natural streams and aquatic bodies present dire harm to the environment. In response to environmental concerns, a number of research have been done using low-cost technology to produce absorbents that can remove dyes from water bodies. Distinct techniques such as adsorption, enzymatic and photocatalytic degradation, etc. have been employed to remove dyes. In the last few decades, photocatalysis, a simple and green strategy, has emerged as the most valuable and recent principle that deals with wastewater treatment, using uniquely fabricated nanomaterials. Among them, rapid and versatile electrospinning methods have been used for the construction of a large surface area, hierarchical and reusable nanofibers for environmental remediation. As a flexible and fast fabrication method, reviewing the use of electrospun photocatalytic nanofibers, influential parameters in electrospinning and their effectiveness in the generation of oxidizing agents are a promising platform for the fabrication of novel nanomaterials in photocatalytic degradation of dyes. This review discusses techniques for dye removal, electrospun nanofibers, their fabrication and application in photocatalysis; mechanism of photocatalytic degradation, and challenges and suggested remedies for electrospun nanofibers in photocatalysis.

Cellulose-Based Nanofibers Processing Techniques and Methods Based on Bottom-Up Approach-A Review

In the past decades, cellulose (one of the most important natural polymers), in the form of nanofibers, has received special attention. The nanofibrous morphology may provide exceptional properties to materials due to the high aspect ratio and dimensions in the nanometer range of the nanofibers. The first feature may lead to important consequences in mechanical behavior if there exists a particular orientation of fibers. On the other hand, nano-sizes provide a high surface-to-volume ratio, which can have important consequences on many properties, such as the wettability. There are two basic approaches for cellulose nanofibers preparation. The top-down approach implies the isolation/extraction of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs) from a variety of natural resources, whereby dimensions of isolates are limited by the source of cellulose and extraction procedures. The bottom-up approach can be considered in this context as the production of nanofibers using various spinning techniques, resulting in nonwoven mats or filaments. During the spinning, depending on the method and processing conditions, good control of the resulting nanofibers dimensions and, consequently, the properties of the produced materials, is possible. Pulp, cotton, and already isolated CNFs/CNCs may be used as precursors for spinning, alongside cellulose derivatives, namely esters and ethers. This review focuses on various spinning techniques to produce submicrometric fibers comprised of cellulose and cellulose derivatives. The spinning of cellulose requires the preparation of spinning solutions; therefore, an overview of various solvents is presented showing their influence on spinnability and resulting properties of nanofibers. In addition, it is shown how bottom-up spinning techniques can be used for recycling cellulose waste into new materials with added value. The application of produced cellulose fibers in various fields is also highlighted, ranging from drug delivery systems, high-strength nonwovens and filaments, filtration membranes, to biomedical scaffolds.

The Phase Structural Evolution and Gas Separation Performances of Cellulose Acetate/Polyimide Composite Membrane from Polymer to Carbon Stage

Blending and heat-treatment play significant roles in adjusting gas separation performances of membranes, especially for incorporating thermally labile polymers into carbon molecular sieve membranes (CMSMs). In this work, cellulose acetate (CA) is introduced into polyimide (PI) as a sacrificial phase to adjust the structure and gas separation performance from polymer to carbon. A novel result is observed that the gas permeability is reduced, even when the immiscible CA phase decomposes and forms pores after heat treatment at 350 °C. After carbonization at 600 °C, the miscible CA has changed without contribution, while the role of the immiscible CA phase has changed from original hindrance to facilitation, the composite-based CMSM at a CA content of 10 wt.% shows highest performances, a H₂ permeability of ~5300 Barrer (56% enhancement) with a similar H₂/N₂ permselectivity of 42. The structural analyses reveal that the chain interactions and phase separation behaviors between CA and PI play critical roles on membrane structures and gas diffusion, and the corresponding phase structural evolutions during heat treatment and carbonization determine gas separation properties.