Effects of PEG-polysaccharide coating on electrospun PLA nanofiber

Abstract

This paper reports the preparation of electrospun polylactic (PLA) nanofiber coated with carrageenan (CRG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). CRG was utilized to increase the hydrophilicty while PEG was used to create strong bonding between the two polymers. The nanocomposites films (PLA/CRG-PEG) were successfully prepared. The presence of CRG improves the hydrophilicity of the nanofiber mat (22.45°) while the addition of PEG increased the mechanical strength. This new approach would enable the applications of electrospun PLA for more hydrophilic environment, especially for medical devices or materials.