Parameter adjustment for fabrication of polylactic acid-based nanofiber by electrospinning

Polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible biopolymer extensively utilized in biomedical applications, particularly in nanofiber production through electrospinning. This study investigates the effects of varying feed rates and voltages during the electrospinning process on the properties of PLA nanofibers. Feed rates of 7 mL/h and 10 mL/h and voltages of 20 kV and 25 kV were examined. The resulting nanofibers were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine fiber diameter and spacing, while their hydrophobicity was evaluated through contact angle measurements. The results reveal that nanofibers produced at a feed rate of 7 mL/h and a voltage of 25 kV exhibit an average diameter of 1449.4 nm, spacing of 3067.06 nm, and a contact angle of 99.4°. At a feed rate of 10 mL/h and the same voltage, the fibers have a reduced diameter of 1020.5 nm, wider spacing of 4273.02 nm, and a higher contact angle of 119.4°. Under a voltage of 20 kV, nanofibers produced at a feed rate of 7 mL/h demonstrate a diameter of 1478.02 nm, spacing of 3721.04 nm, and a contact angle of 82.7°, whereas those produced at 10 mL/h show a much smaller diameter of 269.78 nm, spacing of 1408.12 nm, and a contact angle of 99.5°.