Electrospinning Device for Nanofibers| Recent advances in electrospinning of nanofibers from bio-basedcarbohydrate polymers and their applications

Research Background:
Electrospinning is a simple and versatile method that uses electrostatic force to produce fibers ranging from micro- to nano-scale, utilizing materials from natural biopolymers to synthetic polymers. Variations in basic electrospinning setups can yield fibers with diverse morphologies and functional properties, benefiting specific applications. Additionally, electrospun fibers made from naturally occurring polysaccharides have garnered significant attention due to their biological characteristics and sustainable sources.

Main Content:
A collaborative review by Associate Professor Lingyan Kong (University of Alabama) and Assistant Researcher Songnan Li (Yangzhou University) briefly discusses various electrospinning setups and their close relationship with fiber morphological properties. It delves into electrospun fibers derived from polysaccharides—particularly alginate, cellulose, chitin/chitosan, starch, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, dextran, and fructan—highlighting current research directions. Methods to enhance the electrospinnability of these polysaccharides are also presented. The study, titled "Recent advances in electrospinning of nanofibers from bio-based carbohydrate polymers and their applications," was published in the top-tier journal Trends in Food Science & Technology.

Key Findings & Conclusions:
Optimizing electrospinning processes and spinning solutions can tailor fiber properties. However, before industrial-scale commercialization, identifying effective methods to improve fiber yield—particularly for polysaccharides—is crucial. Biopolymer fibers, due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility, show high potential in biomedical fields.

Fig. 1: (A) Typical dry electrospinning; (B) Wet electrospinning; (C) Coaxial electrospinning; (D) Bubble electrospinning setup

Fig. 2: (A) Alginate’s chemical structure; (B) Alginate nanofibers electrospun by Nie et al. (2008)

Fig. 3: (A) Cellulose; (B) Cellulose acetate; (C) Electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers

Fig. 4: (A) Chitin; (B) Chitosan; (C) SEM images and diameter distribution of CS/PEO blend electrospun fibers

Fig. 5: (A) Amylose/amylopectin structures; SEM images of (B) OSA-modified starch/pullulan nanofibers and (C) amylose-amylopectin fibers in formic acid

Fig. 6: (A) Pullulan’s structure; (B) Diameter distribution of pullulan fibers electrospun with different salts

Fig. 7: (A) Hyaluronic acid’s structure; (B) SEM images of HA nanofibers under varying NaOH/DMF ratios

Fig. 8: (A) Dextran’s structure; (B) SEM images of PU-dextran nanofibers

Conclusions & Future Research:
As outlined, electrospinning is a versatile and cost-effective method for micro/nano-fiber production. These fibers excel in mechanical properties, surface area, and porosity, making them ideal for tissue engineering, filtration, wound dressing, energy applications, protective textiles, and drug delivery. Adjusting process parameters (e.g., coaxial electrospinning) can customize fiber morphology. Multi-jet (needle/nozzle-free) setups address low productivity. Renewable fibers remain a research focus. This review examines electrospinning of bio-based polysaccharides (e.g., alginate, cellulose, starch, chitin/chitosan), which reduce environmental impact and offer biocompatibility. Despite their merits, poor spinnability often requires toxic solvents or co-spinning polymers. Future research should clarify parameter-morphology relationships, optimize fiber properties (structural integrity, antimicrobial activity, wettability), and scale up production.