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Description
Gold nanoparticles incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (AuNPs/PVA) nanofibers were successfully prepared using the electrospinning technique. Two key factors for PVA nanofiber preparation were deter-mined: PVA concentration and tip-to-collector distance. In this study, PVA nanofibers were prepared with various PVA concentrations (i.e., 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 %) and tip-to-collector distance (i.e., 10, 12.5, and 15 cm) at an electric potential of 20 kV, flow rate of 0.3 mL/h, and injection time of 3 h. The morphology of the PVA nanofibers was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). With increasing PVA concentrations from 8 to 18 %, the average fiber diameter of the PVA nanofibers increased from 49.5±9.5 to 121.1±20.8 nm, while the bead density was reduced from 120 to 0 bead/100µm2. Optimal electrospinning conditions, resulting in smooth injection and beadless nanofibers, were deter-mined to be a PVA concentration of 18 % and a tip-to-collector distance of 15 cm. These conditions were further used for the preparation of AuNPs/PVA nanofibers. The AuNPs were synthesized by solution plasma sputtering of Au wires into PVA solution without any chemical addition. SEM images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping revealed that the aver-age fiber diameter of the AuNPs/PVA nanofibers was 97.4±16.5 nm, with a beadless and uniform distribution of AuNPs within PVA nanofibers. Incorporating AuNPs into PVA nanofibers resulted in a decrease in the average fiber diameter compared to 18wt% PVA nano-fibers. The AuNPs/PVA nanofibers hold potential for further development in various medical applications, such as drug delivery systems and biosensors.
