Preparation of PVA/PEI ultra-fine fibers and their composite membrane with PLA by electrospinning

Ultra-fine fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyethylenimine (PVA/PEI) were prepared by electrospinning of their blend solutions in water. Effects of PVA/PEI mass ratio and the polymer concentration on the fiber morphology were discussed by analysis of scanning electron micrographs. Results showed that uniform ultra-fine fibers could be obtained from an 8% PVA/PEI solution with 75:25 mass ratio. It was supposed that the introduction of PVA could promote electrospinning of PEI by weakening the intermolecular interaction and increasing solution viscosity. A composite membrane of PVA/PEI with poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) was produced by co-electrospinning simultaneously from the aqueous 8% PVA/PEI (75:25) solution and a 20% PLA solution in N,N-dimethylformamide in two separated syringes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified the existence of PVA/PEI and PLA in the fibrous membrane. We attempted to incorporate PEI with PLA as ultra-fine fibers to diminish the acidic inflammation caused by biodegradation of PLA. The fibrous composite membrane of PVA/PEI-PLA could provide better biocompatibility and would be used as drug-delivery carriers or tissue-engineering scaffolds.