Fabrication and characterization of electrospun nanofibers using flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) mucilage

Abstract

The spin ability of flaxseed mucilage (FM) as a new source was evaluated through electrospinning. At various experimental conditions and different solution properties, it was impossible to fabricate FM nanofiber. Thus, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was applied as co-polymer to facilitate nanofiber formation. In terms of morphology, FM:polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber using a mixture of 3% FM solution and 12% (PVA) solution at ratio of 60:40 was selected as the best sample. The physicochemical properties of the nanofiber was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM images showed beadless, uniform and smooth nanofibers with an average diameter of 230nm. Based on DSC and TGA results, the thermal stability of the nanofiber was improved by adding PVA. FTIR data revealed that there was no chemical interaction between functional groups of FM and PVA in the nanofiber.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Flaxseed mucilage; Nanofiber; Polyvinyl alcohol.