Fabrication and optimization of highly porous electrospun PLA fibers: a comparative study with curcumin-loaded systems

This article presents a detailed study on the fabrication and optimization of highly porous electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) fibers using a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) mechanism. The research explores the impact of various solvent systems, including chloroform mixed with dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), on the morphology and porosity of the fibers. The study reveals that the PLA-CHL/DMF and PLA-CHL/DMAc mixtures at a 9:1 ratio produce fibers with well-defined surface porosity, while the PLA-CHL/DMSO and PLA-CHL/NMP systems exhibit different morphological characteristics. A comparative analysis of porous and non-porous curcumin-loaded PLA membranes demonstrates superior thermal stability, tensile strength, and water vapor transmission rates in porous membranes. Additionally, the porous membranes exhibit a slow, controlled release of curcumin, highlighting their potential for applications in drug delivery, wound dressings, antimicrobial food wraps, filtration membranes, and sensor platforms. The findings underscore the versatility and potential of porous PLA fibers in various advanced applications, making this article a crucial read for those interested in the latest developments in materials science and polymer engineering.