Electrospinning bioactive supramolecular polymers from water

Biomacromolecules. 2014 Apr 14;15(4):1323-7. doi: 10.1021/bm401877s. Epub 2014 Apr 4.

Abstract

Electrospinning is a high-throughput, low-cost technique for manufacturing long fibers from solution. Conventionally, this technique is used with covalent polymers with large molecular weights. We report here the electrospinning of functional peptide-based supramolecular polymers from water at very low concentrations (<4 wt %). Molecules with low molecular weights (<1 kDa) could be electrospun because they self-assembled into one-dimensional supramolecular polymers upon solvation and the critical parameters of viscosity, solution conductivity, and surface tension were optimized for this technique. The supramolecular structure of the electrospun fibers could ensure that certain residues, like bioepitopes, are displayed on the surface even after processing. This system provides an opportunity to electrospin bioactive supramolecular materials from water for biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Electrochemical Techniques*
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Rheology
  • Solutions
  • Surface Properties
  • Viscosity
  • Water

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • Solutions
  • Water