Phase separation induced shell thickness variations in electrospun hollow Bioglass 45S5 fiber mats for drug delivery applications

In the present study, sub-micron sized hollow Bioglass 45S5 nanofibers are synthesised using an electrospinning technique with the assistance of polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The electrospinning process parameters are optimized to obtain reproducible nanofibers. The effects of solvent and polymer concentrations on the morphology and formation of fibers are studied. Ethanol and water are used to vary the concentration and it is observed that an increase in dilution by water decreases the shell thickness of the hollow fibers. The mechanism of the formation of the hollow fibers is attributed to phase separation, which occurs during physical cooling of the fibers. Fibers prepared from a solution diluted with an equal ratio of ethanol and water show a higher performance in drug loading and releasing kinetics due to their narrow and linear size distribution. These fibers are also highly suitable for bone tissue engineering applications due to their linear fibrous 3D structural mat architecture and they are suitable for large size scaling.