Polymer-micelle complex as an aid to electrospinning nanofibers from aqueous solutions

We propose and demonstrate the concept that a polymer-micelle complex can be used as an aid to preparing nanofibers from aqueous solutions by the electrospinning process. This is based on the recognition that a polymer-micelle complex can simultaneously contribute to an increase in solution viscosity, decrease in surface tension, and increase in electrical conductivity, all of which favor the formation of nanofibers by electrospinning. By incorporating the polymer-micelle complex as a secondary ingredient, electrospinning of sparingly soluble or low molecular weight polymers is made possible, as is illustrated here using a PEO-SDS complex to electrospin a gel forming, genetically engineered silk-elastin biopolymer. The wide choice of polymers and surfactants available to form the polymer-micelle complex with a range of viscosity, surface tension and electrical conductivity properties, potentially allows for a variety of solutions and dispersions to be electrospun from the aqueous medium.