Surface modified electrospun porous magnetic hollow fibers using secondary downstream collection solvent contouring

Abstract

In this study, a relatively facile porous magnetic hollow fiber engineering electrospinning method is demonstrated, which modulates fiber morphology based on secondary solvents (at variable temperatures). To demonstrate this, polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer and iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were used as the fibrous composite matrix. Fiber pore size increased with increasing immersed secondary solvent temperature. By contouring the surface morphology (via modulation of secondary collection solvents) of hollow magnetic fibers, drug (ketoconazole) release kinetics from spun mats were tuned. Furthermore, applying an external AC magnetic field to NP embedded porous fibers enhanced drug release. These findings are promising for alternative engineering, tuning and controlling fiber morphology and drug release behavior.