Effect of solvent combination on the formation of ethylcelluloseelectrospunfibre and bead morphology

Ethylcellulose (EC) is biocompatible, biodegradable, synthetic polymer. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, topical formulations and many more. The EC nanofibres could be useful for above applications due to unique properties of nanofibres. In the present work, EC nanofibres were produced by electrospinning using alternative binary solvent system of toluene (To):ethanol(Et) in different proportions. The EC solution parameters such as conductivity, surface tension and viscosity were measured. The different solvent ratio combinations affected fibre morphology from round shaped collapsed beaded fibre with 100% Et to spindle shaped collapsed beaded fibres , spindle shaped solid beaded fibres to beadless fibres as To proportion increased and finally to very thick beadless fibre at 100%To proportion. The effects of applied voltage and needle to collector distance (NTCD) on EC fibre morphologies were also studied. The average EC fibre diameter reduced with increase in applied voltage and NTCD. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was also performed for characterization of EC nanofibres.