Spinnability and Morphological Stability of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Blends by Electrospinning

Abstract

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a plant-derived polymer known for its excellent anti-adhesive properties, making it suitable for dressings for highly exudative lesions. However, CMC alone is considered an un-spinnable biopolymer due to its complex intermolecular interactions. This study explored the spinnability of CMC through electrospinning by blending it with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at an 8:2 (PVA/CMC) ratio. Two types of PVA with varying molecular weights and degrees of hydrolysis were used at different concentrations. Solutions were prepared with Milli-Q water at 90 °C for about 2 h, followed by electrospinning under different voltages and flow rates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess spinning ability, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) characterized the mats’ chemical composition. Thermal behavior was analyzed using thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results showed that the neat PVA.1 solution produced smaller nanofibers (~217.9 nm), while the PVA.1/CMC blend resulted in a smaller fiber diameter (129.9 nm) but with more defects due to higher surface tension. In contrast, PVA.2 and PVA.2/CMC exhibited larger diameters (448.6 nm and 270.1 nm, respectively) and better thermal and morphological stability, indicating their potential for anti-adhesive chronic wound dressings.