Multi-Layer Wound Dressing Through Solution Blow Spinning

This research was aimed towards determining the best base materials to incorporate in the development of solution blow-spun nanofibers for multi-layer wound dressing sensing applications. To determine which materials would be most applicable for a multi-layer wound dressing sensor, multiple fibers of varying poly(lactic acid), and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite concentrations were created. Subsequently, each fiber was tested for its average diameter, conductivity rate, surface tension, as well as its composition of elements. A four-point probe system was utilized to measure conductivity, a Hitachi S-4800 Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope was used to test the fiber diameter, and a variable pressure SEM S3400 was employed to capture the elemental composition of each fiber. The surface tension of each polymer and solvent system used was collected via the droplet method. SEM images of spun fibers exhibited durable fiber morphology and diameter size that correlated positively with MCWNT and polymer concentrations. Moreover, surface tension analysis showed how an increase in polymer concentration displayed higher tension values. The highest conductivity rate observed occurred when 10% MWCNT of 4% PLA was mixed, in which surface conductivity values were as high as 522 S/cm, which allows an accurate measurement of the resistance, and thus concentration, of bacteria