Xu, Zewen;
(2017)
Gyration Spun Polymeric Fibres for Antibacterial Applications.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
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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.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Gyration Spun Polymeric Fibres for Antibacterial Applications |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1574699 |
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