from the conferences organized by TANGER Ltd.
The aim of this study was to describe electrospinning method for preparation of self-supporting homogenous nanofibrous layers with a presence of pristine clay minerals and clay minerals containing antibacterial agent chlorhexidine acetate in their interlayer space. One clay and two polymers were used. Vermiculite was used as obtained with size fraction < 40 μm. Chlorhexidine/vermiculite was prepared through the intercalation process. Nanofibers were made of hydrophobic polymers, polyurethane (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL), to gain water stable and durable layers. Polymer solutions for electrospinning contained 2, 5 and 8 wt. % (according to the total weight of the solution) of clay or chlorhexidine/clay. These suspensions were homogenized and immediately spun using 4SPIN LAB. Self-supporting homogenous fibrous layers were prepared under the same electrospinning conditions as neat polymers and were further analysed. Morphology was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and presence of clay minerals in the layer was confirmed by digital microscopy and EDX mapping. From SEM images, diameter of the fibres was evaluated. Fibre diameter decreased after adding the clay and was ranging from 600 nm to 1200 nm. Clay particles were present both in fibres and on the surface. Antibacterial chlorhexidine was found in the vermiculite matrix as well as separately in the fibres (result of imperfect intercalation).
Keywords: Clay, nanofibers, electrospinning, chlorhexidine, antibacterial© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.