Electrospun Biopolymer-Based Micro/Nanofibers

In this paper electrospinning process was used to produce fibers for variety of applications such as tissue engineering, bio-photovoltaics, and bio-FETs. Tissue scaffolds have been made using electrospun fibers containing polycaprolactone (PCL) as a core material and gelatin as sheath. Biodegradable and biocompatible exterior gelatin promotes cell generation while biodegradable PCL core gives higher fiber modulus. The mechanical properties of gelatin-PCL coaxial fibers were also reported and the fibers are analyzed using SEM and TEM techniques. Isolated pigments and photosystem of polymers and biopolymers were studied also since photosystem can improved the stand-alone chlorophylls and accessory pigments for photovoltaic devices applications. Spinach pigment doped poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was used and analyzed using optical microscopy. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and DNA polymer blends were used for FET connection to form bio-FETs. Hexadecyltrimethylammonim chloride (CTMA) cationic surfactant was utilized to make a DNA to be soluble in common organic solvents. Images of the polymer fibres were presented along with the DNA-CMTA schematic structure.