Development of Solvent Free, in situ Cross-linked Biodegradable Nanofibers Using Rotary Jet Spinning

Currently, there is a pressing and growing need for the development of biodegradable and sustainable nonwoven materials. Nonwoven fabrics are designed to be disposal, non-durable materials that are predominantly single use products. However, the disposable nature of many nonwovens leads to problems with the generation of large amounts of waste in landfills, wastewater system contaminations, and operational problems in sewer systems. Furthermore, they contribute the growing number of microplastics in our oceans and marine environments. In order to overcome these issues, nanofibers can be used to produce nonwoven fabrics that are biodegradable, sustainable and non-toxic. In addition to these characteristics, the functionalization of these nonwovens with therapeutic agents has the potential for use in biomedical applications. The rotary jet spinning (RJS) system is a high throughput-manufacturing platform that uses centrifugal forces to generate nanofibers. This has allowed for the development of textiles from previously unexploited biopolymers and also eliminates the need for volatile solvents in the production process. Additionally, the platform is scalable to produce continuous large-scale production and is more environmentally friendly than present manufacturing methods. In the present study, we have identified a natural, biodegradable and nontoxic biopolymer that has not yet been used in the development of textiles. As a result, we are able to generate textiles that are customizable, can be functionalized with active cosmetic or pharmaceutical ingredients, and are eco-friendly and non-toxic.