Electrospun fiber mats are normally highly porous. During electrospinning process one can control the pores on individual nanofibers which depends on operating parameters such as relative humidity. How can you benefit from these pores while the average pore size and pore size distribution of the fiber mat is considerably high compared to the individual fiber strands?
It could further enhance the entire porosity of the mat/membrane.
Is there any possibilities to utilize these pores in controlled drug delivery?
Maybe alternating fibers with pores of different sizes at different points of the exchanger? Excuse me Lijo for intrusion.
Hi Lizo,
I think it depends on the application. From a tissue engineering perspective, a large average pore size would be beneficial for cell migration and mass transfer. But from my short experience, the pore sizes of random electrospun nanofibers with an average fiber diameter of approx. 300 nm would give less than 1 micrometer average pore size. But having additional "porous individual fibers" might facilitate in increasing the surface area of the fibrous mat. This will probably increase the adhesion of cells or biomolecules onto the surface, which is one of the important functional features targeted in the development of biomaterials.
Thanks dear Ashang.
My major concern is the function of pores in individual nanofibers.
Best Regards
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