eprintid: 1574699
rev_number: 20
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/01/57/46/99
datestamp: 2017-11-10 14:10:13
lastmod: 2020-10-05 21:24:04
status_changed: 2017-11-10 14:10:13
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Xu, Zewen
title: Gyration Spun Polymeric Fibres for Antibacterial Applications
ispublished: unpub
divisions: UCL
divisions: A01
divisions: B04
divisions: C05
divisions: F46
abstract: Hybrid polymeric fibres and fibrous structures have widely been used to construct porous polymer scaffolds with excellent functionally, and are of great interest in biomedical applications. In this thesis, in contrast to electrospinning, a novel approach, gyration spinning with or without pressure is reported to achieve a high production rate for hybrid nanoparticle embedded polymer fibres in the micro to nanometre scale range using either polymer solutions or melts. Polyurethane (PU), nylon, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were used as the polymers not only because of their excellent biocompatibility, but also depends on good oxidative biostability, processability of PU, good mechanical strength, spinnability and stability for nylon, and non-toxicity of PEO. In the meantime, silver nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles were used to increase the antibacterial performance to produce hybrid nanofibres using pressurised solution gyration. A pressurised melt gyration process was used for the first time to generate poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibres and silver coated PCL fibres in the micrometre range (< 50 m) due to the low melting point (60°C) of PCL pellets. The formation of fibres depends on the centrifugal force, pressure blowing and evaporation. Fibre diameter is significantly reduced with a decrease in the weight percentage of the polymer in solution, and an increase in the melting temperature, rotational speed and working pressure. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to study the characteristics and morphology of the fabricated polymer fibres. Incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into the polymer fibres was confirmed using a combination of advanced microscopical techniques and Raman spectrometry to study the bonding characteristics of the polymer and Ag nanoparticles. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) showed that the substantial concentration of Ag ions in the nylon fibre matrix was producing effective antibacterial properties. Ag nanoparticles and CuO nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into polymer fibres and proved to be of higher antibacterial efficacy than virgin polymer fibres, against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
date: 2017-09-28
date_type: submitted
oa_status: green
full_text_type: other
thesis_class: doctoral_open
language: eng
thesis_view: UCL_Thesis
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1423462
lyricists_name: Xu, Zewen
lyricists_id: ZXUXX86
actors_name: Xu, Zewen
actors_name: Flynn, Bernadette
actors_id: ZXUXX86
actors_id: BFFLY94
actors_role: owner
actors_role: impersonator
full_text_status: public
pages: 191
event_title: UCL (University College London)
institution: UCL (University College London)
department: Mechanical Engineering
thesis_type: Doctoral
editors_name: Edirisinghe, M
citation:        Xu, Zewen;      (2017)    Gyration Spun Polymeric Fibres for Antibacterial Applications.                   Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).     Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1574699/1/Xu_ID_PhDThesis.pdf