Nanofibers with diameter below one nanometer from electrospinning

Sub-nanometer materials have received wide attention due to their unique properties in recent years. Most studies focus on the preparation and properties investigation of the inorganic sub-nanometer materials, while there are few reports on organic especially polymeric sub-nanometer materials such as sub-nanometer fiber due to the obstacles with respect to fabricating such small nanofibers. In this work we prepare PAA nanofibers with diameters ranging from hundreds of nanometers down to sub-nanometer via electrospinning from a polyamic acid (PAA) with ultrahigh molecular weight. The morphologies and size of the electrospun ultrathin nanofibers are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images combined with theoretic calculations show that sub-nanometer fiber of approximate 0.17–0.63 nm only containing one molecular chain was generated via electrospinning from ultra-dilute PAA solutions for the first time. These quite small sub-nanometer fibers would open a new area of electrospinning and provide further explorations on the production and application of electrospun sub-nanometer fibers with single molecular chains.

Super-fine nanofibers with diameter below 1 nanometer are prepared by electrospinning from ultra-dilute solutions.     

Electrospun fibers and their application in drug controlled release,biological dressings,tissue repair,and enzyme immobilization

Electrospinning is a method of preparing microfibers or nanofibers by using an electrostatic force to stretch the electrospinning fluid. Electrospinning has gained considerable attention in many fields due to its ability to produce continuous fibers from a variety of polymers and composites in a simple way. Electrospun nanofibers have many merits such as diverse chemical composition, easily adjustable structure, adjustable diameter, high surface area, high porosity, and good pore connectivity, which give them broad application prospects in the biomedical field. This review systematically introduced the factors influencing electrospinning, the types of electrospun fibers, the types of electrospinning, and the detailed applications of electrospun fibers in controlled drug release, biological dressings, tissue repair and enzyme immobilization fields. The latest progress of using electrospun fibers in these fields was summarized, and the main challenges to be solved in electrospinning technology were put forward.

Electrospun fibers have gained considerable attention in drug controlled release, biological dressings, tissue repair and enzyme immobilization fields.     

Polystyrene nanofibers as an effective sorbent for the adsorption of clonazepam: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Polystyrene (PS) electrospun nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning for the adsorption of clonazepam from aqueous solution. The adsorption conditions such as adsorption time, solution pH and the amount of adsorbent were optimized. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic properties of clonazepam on PS nanofibers were studied under optimized conditions. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model can fit well the adsorption process of clonazepam on polystyrene nanofibers, indicating that the diffusion process in the fiber is the rate-limiting step of the adsorption process. The adsorption equilibrium data are in accordance with the Freundlich isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity is 3.2 mg g⁻¹. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. It was suggested that PS electrospun nanofibers have good potential for the separation and purification of clonazepam from a water-soluble matrix as a novel effective adsorbent material.

Polystyrene (PS) electrospun nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning for the adsorption of clonazepam from aqueous solution.     

Quercetin-gold nanorods incorporated into nanofibers: development,optimization and cytotoxicity

Herein, a polymeric nanofiber scaffold loaded with Quercetin (Quer)–gold nanorods (GNR) was developed and characterized. Several parameters related to loading Quer into GNR, incorporating the GNR-Quer into polymeric solutions, and fabricating the nanofibers by electrospinning were optimized. GNR-Quer loaded into a polymeric mixture of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) (21%) and poloxamer 407 (23%) has produced intact GNR-Quer-nanofibers with enhanced physical and mechanical properties. GNR-Quer-nanofibers demonstrated a slow pattern of Quer release over time compared to nanofibers free of GNR-Quer. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) revealed enhanced uniformity and homogeneity of the GNR-Quer-nanofibers. GNR-Quer-nanofibers demonstrated a high ability to retain water upon incubation in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 24 h compared to nanofibers free of GNR-Quer. A cellular toxicity study indicated that the average cellular viability of human dermal fibroblasts was 76% after 24 h of exposure to the nanofibers containing a low concentration of GNR-Quer.

Incorporating GNR-Quer into a mixture of 21% PLGA LMWT and 23% poloxamer 407 produced smooth, intact and uniform electrospun nanofibers with enhanced mechanical properties and hydration potential.     

Electrospun porous poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)/lecithin scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering has emerged as a promising restorative strategy for bone reconstruction and bone defect repair. It is challenging to establish an appropriate scaffold with an excellent porous microstructure for bone defects and thereby promote bone repair. In this study, electrospinning as a simple and efficient technology was employed to fabricate a porous poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P34HB) scaffold coated with lecithin. The morphology, phase composition, and physical properties of the electrospun P34HB/lec scaffold were characterized. Meanwhile, cellular behaviors of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), including proliferation, adhesion, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and related gene expression, were also investigated. Finally, a rat subcutaneous implant model and a calvarial defect model were used to evaluated the biocompatibility and effect of these scaffolds on bone repair, respectively. The in vitro results demonstrated that these electrospun fibers were interwoven with each other to form the porous P34HB/lec scaffold and the addition of lecithin improved the hydrophilicity of the pure P34HB scaffold, enhanced the efficiency of cell migration, and decreased inflammatory response. Furthermore, the in vivo results showed that P34HB/lec scaffold had excellent biocompatibility, improved the vascularization, and promoted the bone regeneration. All these results indicated that nanofibers of P34HB scaffolds in combination with the lecithin could exert a synergistic effect on promoting osteogenesis and regeneration of bone defects; thus, the P34HB scaffold with lecithin showed great application potential for bone tissue engineering.

An electrospun P34HB scaffold was prepared and coated with lecithin. As a scaffold for bone tissue engineering, the P34HB/lec scaffold could promote proliferation and osteogenesis of BMSCs in vitro, and also accelerate bone regeneration in vivo.     

Recent update on electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: current trends and their applications

Electrospinning is a versatile and viable technique for generating ultrathin fibers. Remarkable progress has been made in techniques for creating electro-spun and non-electro-spun nanofibers. Nanofibers were the center of attention for industries and researchers due to their simplicity in manufacture and setup. The review discusses a thorough overview of both electrospinning and non-electrospinning processes, including their setup, fabrication process, components, and applications. The review starts with an overview of the field of nanotechnology, the background of electrospinning, the surge in demand for nanofiber production, the materials needed to make nanofibers, and the critical process variables that determine the characteristics of nanofibers. Additionally, the diverse applications of electrospun nanofibers, such as smart mats, catalytic supports, filtration membranes, energy storage/heritage components, electrical devices (batteries), and biomedical scaffolds, are then covered. Further, the review concentrates on the most recent and pertinent developments in nanofibers that are connected to the use of nanofibers, focusing on the most illustrative cases. Finally, challenges and their possible solutions, marketing, and the future prospects of nanofiber development are discussed.

Electrospinning is a versatile and viable technique for generating ultrathin fibers.     

Preparation of cellulose acetate derived carbon nanofibers by ZnCl2 activation as a supercapacitor electrode

Porous carbon nanofibers are fabricated by one-step carbonization and activation of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibres. Electrospun CA nanofibers were obtained by the electrospinning of a CA/DMAC/acetone solution, followed by deacetylation in NaOH/ethanol solution. One-step carbonization and activation was achieved by dipping the as-spun fibers in ZnCl₂ solution, followed by one-step high temperature treatment. The effects of the concentration of the dipping solution on the microstructure of the CA-based carbon nanofibers (CACNFs), including the morphology, crystal structure, porous structure, specific surface area and surface chemical properties, have been investigated. The coating of ZnCl₂ effectively improves the thermal stability of electrospun CA nanofibers and obviously enhances the oxygen-containing surface groups of the CACNFs. The CACNFs have a norrow pore size distribution (0.6–1.2 nm) and a high specific surface area (∼1188 m² g⁻¹). Electrochemical performances of the CACNFs were evaluated as supercapacitor electrodes in 6 M KOH solution. The CACNFs demonstrate high specific capacitance (202 F g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹) and excellent rate capability (61% of the retention from 0.1 to 20 A g⁻¹). After 5000 cycles of the electrode, the capacitance is maintained at 92%, and the coulombic efficiency is close to 100%, showing high electrochemical stability and reversibility. The renewable features and excellent performance make CACNFs quite a promising alternative to efficient supercapacitor electrodes for energy storage applications.

Porous carbon nanofibers are fabricated by one-step carbonization and activation of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibres.     

A biomimetic orthogonal-bilayer tubular scaffold for the co-culture of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

In blood vessels, endothelial cells (ECs) grow along the direction of blood flow, while smooth muscle cells (SMCs) grow circumferentially along the vessel wall. To mimic this structure, a polycaprolactone (PCL) tubular scaffold with orthogonally oriented bilayer nanofibers was prepared via electrospinning and winding. ECs were cultured on the inner layer of the scaffold with axial nanofibers and SMCs were cultured on the outer layer of the scaffold with circumferential nanofibers. Fluorescence images of the F-actin distribution of ECs and SMCs indicated that cells adhered, stretched, and proliferated in an oriented manner on the scaffold. Moreover, layers of ECs and SMCs formed on the scaffold after one month of incubation. The expression levels of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) and a contractile SMC phenotype marker in the EC/SMC co-culture system were much higher than those in individual culture systems, thus demonstrating that the proposed biomimetic scaffold promoted the intercellular junction of ECs and preserved the contractile phenotype of SMCs.

To mimic blood vessels, a polycaprolactone tubular scaffold was prepared via electrospinning and winding. Endothelial cells were cultured on the inner layer with axial nanofibers and smooth muscle cells were cultured on the outer layer with circumferential nanofibers.     

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial dopamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide/PLLA composite nanofibers

Electrospun poly(l)-lactide (PLLA) ultrafine fibers are a biodegradable and biocompatible scaffold, widely used in tissue engineering applications. Unfortunately, these scaffolds have some limitations related to the absence of bioactivity and antibacterial capacity. In this study, dopamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/PLLA composite nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning. The morphology and the physicochemical and biological properties of the composite nanofibers were investigated. The results indicate that incorporating rGO improves the hydrophilic, mechanical, and biocompatibility properties of PLLA nanofibers. Tetracycline hydrochloride (TC)-loaded rGO/PLLA composite nanofibers showed better controlled drug release profiles compared to GO/PLLA and PLLA nanofibrous scaffolds. Drug-loaded nanofibrous scaffolds showed significantly improved antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Additionally, rGO/PLLA composite nanofibers exhibited enhanced cytocompatibility. Thus, it can be concluded that rGO/PLLA composite nanofibers allow the development of multifunctional scaffolds for use in biomedical applications.

Antibacterial dopamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/PLLA composite nanofibers for biomedical applications.     

Fabrication of a polyvinylidene fluoride cactus-like nanofiber through one-step electrospinning

Surface modification of fibers has attracted significant attention in different areas and applications. In this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) cactus-like nanofibers were directly produced via electrospinning at a high relative humidity (RH) of 62%. The formation mechanism of the cactus structure was demonstrated. The effects of the RH on the fabrication of the cactus structure, crystalline phases, mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, and piezoelectric properties of the PVDF nanofibers were investigated. The results showed that the cactus-like nanofibers have a high crystallinity (ΔX_c), and an outstanding water contact angle (WCA), as well as good electrical outputs. We believe that the PVDF cactus structure can be used in many applications such as energy harvesting and self-cleaning surfaces.

A novel PVDF cactus-like nanofiber was directly electrospun. The mechanism of formation, properties, and possible applications were demonstrated.     

A novel fabrication of electrospun polyacrylonitrile/NaYF4:Eu+3 light emitting nanofibers

Polyacrylonitrile/NaYF₄:Eu⁺³ nanophosphor composite nanofibers have been successfully prepared using the electrospinning technique. The electrospun nanofibers exhibited intense emission of gradient blue (X₂ = 0.254, Y₂ = 0.152 and X₃ = 0.233, Y₃ = 0.139) with different concentrations of nanophosphor under the excitation wavelength of 239 nm. The morphological and structural characterization of the nanofibers confirms the uniform dispersion of nanophosphor, while photoluminescence spectroscopy confirms tunability in luminescence properties.

Polyacrylonitrile/NaYF₄:Eu⁺³ nanophosphor composite nanofibers have been successfully prepared using the electrospinning technique.     

Accelerated fabrication of antibacterial and osteoinductive electrospun fibrous scaffolds via electrochemical deposition

Electrospun fibrous scaffolds have attracted much research interest due to their many applications in orthopedics and other relevant fields. However, poor surface bioactivity of the polymer scaffold body significantly limits the implementation of many potential applications, and an effective solution remains a great challenge for researchers. Herein, a highly efficient method, namely pulsed electrochemical deposition (ED) with co-electrospinning nano-Ag dopant, to fabricate poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/nano-Ag composite fibers is presented. The resulting product demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties, as well as strong capabilities in facilitating the precipitation of calcium phosphate crystals at fiber surfaces and in promoting osteogenic differentiation. In the process of ED, the conductivity of the fibers was observed to increase due to the nano-Ag dopant. Upon applying pulse signals when charging, water electrolysis occurred in micro-reactive regions of anodic fibers, forming OH⁻, an alkaline environment that allowed the supersaturation of calcium phosphate. When discharging, the calcium phosphate in the solution diffused rapidly and reduced the concentration polarization, reforming a homogeneous electrolyte. The realization of efficient bioactive coatings at fiber surfaces was achieved in a highly efficient manner by repeating the above charging and discharging processes. Therefore, ED can be adopted to simplify and accelerate the fabrication process of an osteogenetic and antibacterial electrospun fibrous scaffold.

Fabricating quickly biomineralized nanofibers by combining electrospinning and electrodeposition for orthopedic applications.     

Anti microbial corrosion properties of electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers containing biogenic silver nanoparticles for copper coatings

Nanofibers with inorganic nanoparticles are novel hybrid nanocomposites that have great potential in various areas. In the present study, cellulose acetate nanofibers (CA-Nf) loaded with biogenic silver nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. In situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles was accomplished using a bacteria free solution as a reducing agent. Nanofibers incorporated with silver nanoparticles were fabricated using the electrospinning technique. Upright microscopy and SEM micrographs depicted that the CA-Nf coatings consist of dense and compact entangled nanofibers that completely cover the copper surface. Corrosion measurements were performed by potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques on the bare copper and CA-Nf and CA-Nf_5% AgNp coated copper surfaces in artificial seawater (ASW) and Escherichia coli ATCC 13883 inoculated solutions. Weight loss and electrochemical corrosion test results revealed that the CA-Nf-coated copper had greater corrosion resistance than bare copper. The additional electrospun CA-Nf_5% AgNp coating also had greater antibacterial behavior toward model biofilm bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa than uncoated copper specimens. Therefore, this nanofiber with AgNps was demonstrated as an efficient anticorrosive material in both corrosive and biocorrosive marine solutions.

Nanofibers with inorganic nanoparticles are novel hybrid nanocomposites that have great potential in various areas.     

Coaxial nanofiber scaffold with super-active platelet lysate to accelerate the repair of bone defects

To develop biocomposite materials with the local sustained-release function of biological factors to promote bone defect repair, coaxial electrospinning technology was performed to prepare a coaxial nanofiber scaffold with super-active platelet lysate (sPL), containing gelatin/PCL/PLLA. The nanofibers exhibited a uniform bead-free round morphology, observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the core/shell structure was confirmed by a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A mixture of polycaprolactone and sPL encapsulated by hydrophilic gelatin and hydrophobic l-polylactic acid can continuously release bioactive factors for up to 40 days. Encapsulation of sPL resulted in enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation, and sPL loading can increase the osteogenesis of osteoblasts. Besides, in vivo studies demonstrated that sPL-loaded biocomposites promoted the repair of skull defects in rats. Therefore, these results indicate that core–shell nanofibers loaded with sPL can add enormous potential to the clinical application of this scaffold in bone tissue engineering.

Coaxial electrospinning three-dimensional scaffold and its release various biological factors after filling the bone defect to induce adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts on the nano scaffold.     

Preparation of thermo-responsive drug-loaded nanofibrous films created by electrospinning

We prepared thermosensitive and biocompatible drug-loaded nanofibrous films by an electrospinning technique using a block copolymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(l-lactide) (PNLA), and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA). The copolymer PNLA was synthesized by the radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), followed by the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide. The properties of PNIPAAm and PNLA were selectively discussed based on the results of NMR, FT-IR, GPC, and CA analyses. Because of the low molecular weight of PNIPAAm and PNLA and the hydrolysis of PNLA resulting from its hydrophilicity, these copolymers were inappropriate for electrospinning separately. Hence, a mixture of PNLA and PLLA was used to prepare electrospun nanofibrous films. SEM images of the PNLA/PLLA electrospun films showed that homogeneous fibres with smooth surfaces were obtained. In vitro release studies indicated that the drug-release rate of the PNLA/PLLA electrospun nanofibrous films can be adjusted by the content and molecular weight of PNLA and by the environmental temperature. The results demonstrate that electrospinning is a promising way to create stimuli-responsive fibrous films with potential applications in the design of controllable drug delivery systems.

Thermosensitive and biocompatible PNLA/PLLA drug-loaded nanofibrous films with different morphologies and controlled drug release behaviors by electrospinning technique.     

A review of recent progress in polymeric electrospun nanofiber membranes in addressing safe water global issues

With rapid advancement in water filtration materials, several efforts have been made to fabricate electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs). ENMs play a crucial role in different areas of water treatment due to their several advantageous properties such as high specific surface area, high interconnected porosity, controllable thickness, mechanical robustness, and wettability. In the broad field of water purification, ENMs have shown tremendous potential in terms of permeability, rejection, energy efficiency, resistance to fouling, reusability and mechanical robustness as compared to the traditional phase inversion membranes. Upon various chemical and physical modifications of ENMs, they have exhibited great potential for emerging applications in environment, energy and health sectors. This review firstly presents an overview of the limiting factors influencing the morphology of electrospun nanofibers. Secondly, it presents recent advancements in electrospinning processes, which helps to not only overcome drawbacks associated with the conventional electrospinning but also to produce nanofibers of different morphology and orientation with an increased rate of production. Thirdly, it presents a brief discussion about the recent progress of the ENMs for removal of various pollutants from aqueous system through major areas of membrane separation. Finally, this review concludes with the challenges and future directions in this vast and fast growing area.

This review provides an overview of recent advances and developments in electrospinning technology and the recent progress and applications of electrospun nanofiber membranes to expel various pollutants from water.     

Activated release of bioactive aldehydes from their precursors embedded in electrospun poly(lactic acid) nonwovens

Hexanal and benzaldehyde are naturally-occurring aroma compounds from plants with enzyme-inhibition and antimicrobial properties. Although useful for food preservation applications, the end-use of these compounds can be challenging due to their volatility and susceptibility to oxidative degradation. In this study, stable precursors for benzaldehyde and hexanal were synthetized via reversible condensation reactions with N,N′-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine. The molecular structures of the resulting 1,3-dibenzylethane-2-phenyl and 1,3-dibenzylethane-2-pentyl imidazolidines were confirmed by NMR analyses. The precursors were encapsulated in poly(lactic acid) fibers via electrospinning, using a 90 : 10 ethyl formate : dimethyl sulfoxide blend as a solvent. Triggered release of benzaldehyde and/or hexanal from the resulting active nonwovens was achieved by the addition of 1 N citric acid, which can be described using a pseudo first order kinetic equation involving rapid and slow release steps.

Benzaldehyde and hexanal precursors were synthesized and encapsulated in electrospun PLA nonwovens to facilitate the triggered release of these aldehydes.     

Remarkable adsorptive removal of nitrogen-containing compounds from hydrotreated fuel by molecularly imprinted poly-2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4-phenol nanofibers

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning of poly 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4-phenol (PIMH) in the presence of various nitrogen containing compounds (N-compounds). Molecularly imprinted polymer nanofibers show selectivity for various target model nitrogen-containing compounds with adsorption capacities of 11.7 ± 0.9 mg g⁻¹, 11.9 ± 0.8 mg g⁻¹ and 11.3 ± 1.1 mg g⁻¹ for quinoline, pyrimidine and carbazole, respectively. Molecular modelling based upon density functional theory (DFT) indicated that hydrogen bond interactions may take place between the lone-pair nitrogen atom of model compounds (quinoline and pyrimidine) and the –OH and –NH groups of the PIMH nanofibers. The adsorption mode followed the Freundlich (multi-layered) adsorption isotherm, which indicated possible nitrogen–nitrogen compound interactions. Molecularly imprinted polymer nanofibers show potential for the removal of nitrogen-containing compounds in fuel.

Molecularly imprinted poly-2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4-phenol nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning displayed excellent selectivity adsorption capacities nitrogen containing compounds (N-compounds) in hydro-treated fuels.     

Preparation and evaluation of poly(ester-urethane) urea/gelatin nanofibers based on different crosslinking strategies for potential applications in vascular tissue engineering

Due to the brittleness of gelatin, the resulting absence of mechanical performance restricts its applications in vascular tissue engineering. In this research, the fabrication of poly(ester-urethane) urea/gelatin (PU75) nanofibers via an electrospinning technique, followed by different crosslinking methods, resulted in the improvement of its mechanical properties. Poly(ester urethane) urea (PEUU) nanofibrous scaffolds and PU75-based nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), a mechanical properties test, a cytocompatibility assay, a hemolysis assay, and a histological analysis. Water contact angle (WCA) tests confirmed that the PU75-GA (PU75 nanofibers crosslinked with glutaraldehyde vapor) nanofibrous scaffold surfaces became more hydrophilic compared with other crosslinked nanofibrous scaffolds. The results show that the PU75-GA nanofibrous scaffold exhibited a combination of excellent mechanical properties, suitable pore diameters, hydrophilic properties, good cytocompatibility, and reliable hemocompatibility. Overall, PU75-GA nanofibers may be a potential scaffold for artificial blood vessel construction.

SEM micrographs of the PEUU nanofibrous membrane, PU75 nanofibrous membrane, PU75-DT nanofibrous membrane, PU75-GA nanofibrous membrane, and PU75-E/N nanofibrous membrane and magnified 1000, 5000, and 10 000 times, respectively.     

Preparation of PVDF/FMBO composite electrospun nanofiber for effective arsenate removal from water

In this study, novel electrospun nanofibers (NFs) composed of organic polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) and inorganic Fe–Mn binary oxide (FMBO) nanoparticles were fabricated using an electrospinning technique for adsorptive decontamination of As(v) from polluted water. The NFs were prepared with doped solutions consisting of different weight ratios of PVDF/FMBO, in a NF matrix, ranging from 0 to 0.5. SEM, XRD, FTIR and TEM then characterized the NFs and FMBO particles. The XRD analysis indicated successful impregnation of FMBO nanoparticles in the NF matrix of the NFs investigated. An As(v) adsorption capacity as high as around 21.32 mg g⁻¹ was obtained using the NF containing the highest amount of FMBO nanoparticles (designated as PVDF/FMBO 0.5). Furthermore, the adsorptive performance of the PVDF/FMBO 0.5 nanofiber could be easily regenerated using diluted alkaline solution (NaOH and NaOCl).

In this study, novel electrospun nanofibers composed of organic polyvinylidine fluoride and inorganic Fe–Mn binary oxide nanoparticles were fabricated using an electrospinning technique for adsorptive removal of As(v) from polluted water.