Zein/cellulose acetate hybrid nanofibers: Electrospinning and characterization

Protein based scaffolds are preferred for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications owing to their unique properties. Zein, a hydrophobic protein, is a promising natural biodegradable polymer. However, electrospun structures prepared from Zein have poor mechanical and wetting properties. Cellulose acetate (CA) is an economical, biodegradable polymer having good mechanical and water retention properties. The aim of present study was to fabricate a novel material by electrospinning Zein/CA blends. A series of Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers were electrospun and characterized. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATRFTIR) spectrum showed the characteristic peaks of both Zein and CA, and was composition dependent. The X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) curves of Zein/CA blends demonstrated a similar profile to that of pristine Zein nanofibers. Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) studies confirmed that the Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have a higher degradation temperature and better thermal stability than pristine Zein nanofibers. The glass transition temperature (T (g) ) of Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers was also increased in comparison to pure Zein nanofibers as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers have hydrophilic surface character as revealed by water contact angle (WCA) analysis. SEM imaging showed bead free morphology of the electrospun nanofibers. The average nanofiber diameter decreased for Zein/CA blends with increasing CA composition. The electrospun Zein/CA hybrid nanofibers may be used for tissue engineering scaffolds and for other biomedical materials.