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Dissertation
Determination of the electrospinning parameters for biopolyelectrolytes and their modifications
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
May 2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3081
Abstract
The second most abundant naturally occurring, organic material, chitin, is a high molecular weight linear polymer; when N-deacetylated, the polyelectrolyte chitosan, is obtained. Each repeat unit of chitosan, as well as other polyelectrolytic biopolymers contain a charged atom, balanced by a cloud of counterions in solution. These charges and batch-to-batch variability make biopolymers challenging to work with; however, their renewable nature and inherent properties such as antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and chelation capability make them ideal candidates for a variety of applications. We have successfully electrospun the practical-grade (PG) of chitin and chitosan, along with a variety of biopolymer-composites into fibrous membranes. To increase the chemical stability of chitosan membranes, two novel cross-linking methods were developed and confirmed utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and chemical stability studies. Flux capacity, mechanical properties, chelation capability, and crystallinity were analyzed using a flow cell, uniaxial tensile tester, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Three major impacts of this work include: (1) a full analysis of the transformation of PG chitin and PG chitosan throughout the electrospinning process, (2) identification and tailoring of the mechanical and electrical properties of chitosan membranes, and (3) applying knowledge gained from the chitosan system to increase the catalog of known biopolyelectrolytes, which could be electrospun into fibrous membranes.
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Details
- Title
- Determination of the electrospinning parameters for biopolyelectrolytes and their modifications
- Creators
- Jessica D. Schiffman - DU
- Contributors
- Caroline L. Schauer (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials (Science and) Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) [Historical]; College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3081; 991014632938504721