Metal ions and metal nanoparticles are involved in several biomedical applications; however, these materials can be toxic. A safe matrix is therefore, required for use of these metal ions. The electrospun polyelectrolyte nanofibers have been proven to be useful as reservoir matrices due to high surface area and hydrogel like properties. Polyacrylic acid and chitosan can be easily electrospun into fibers. The metal ions can be loaded into these fibers during the electrospinning process. The metal ions of interest in this study are cerium ions, calcium ions and ferric ions. Cerium ions loaded fibers were treated further to form ceria nanoparticles. Ceria nanoparticles can induce faster recovery of wounds when ceria nanoparticle loaded fibers are used as wound dressings.  Ferric ions loaded fibers were used for generating polypyrrole coating over the fibers for tissue engineering. Calcium ion loaded fibers were incubated with body simulated fluid to obtain porous bone-like composites.

Polyelectrolyte fibers loaded with metal ions for biomedical applications

244th National Meeting (2012)

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