New generation nanofiber based medical membrane production

Recent developments in nanotechnology have paved the way for materials and devices that can be produced on nanoscale. They have excellent properties such as mimicable surface functionalities, good mechanical properties for example excellent stiffness and tensile strength and very high surface area to volume ratio. The nanofibers have a diameter between 1 and 0,01 micrometer, in other words, they can range from micrometer to sub-micrometer levels. There are several techniques to produce nanofibers. Techniques such as melt-spinning, phase separation, template synthesis, self-assembly, drawing, arc discharge and electrospinning can be used to produce nanofibers. Among these methods, the most commonly used one is electrospinning method. This method is continuous, economical and easy. In the electrospinning process, there are certain parameters that directly affect the process of obtaining fibers from the polymer solution. These parameters can be grouped under two headings as solution parameters and process parameters. Solution parameters are; concentration, viscosity, molecular weight, solvent, surface tension and conductivity of the solution. Process parameters are; voltage, feed rate, collector type, distance between needle and collector, needle diameter and environment parameters. In this study, PLA - actinidia deliciosa (Act) solutions were prepared by different solution preparation techniques and membrane production was performed by electrospinning method. During electro-spinning process, particle size and ratio of active agent, which is one of the solution parameters, and moisture, which is one of the process parameters, were examined. Antibacterial activity studies of the produced membranes were performed against E. coli (Gram negative bacteria) and S. aureus (Gram positive bacteria).