Mechanical properties and biodegradability of electrospun soy protein Isolate/PVA hybrid nanofibers

Protein-based, biodegradable hybrid nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning an aqueous solution of soy protein isolate (SPI)/Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) mixtures. The ratio of SPI to PVA and pH level in the solution was experimentally designed for the preparation of spinning dopes. The effects of SPI content and pH level on the mechanical and biodegradable properties of electrospun SPI/PVA hybrid nanofiber mats were studied. The mechanical strength of the electrospun nanofiber mats decreased gradually as the SPI content increased. At the same SPI content, a higher pH level of the solution increased the denaturation of the protein and produced thinner fibers, leading to substantial reduction in the mechanical strength. The composting process was monitored for about one month to evaluate the biodegradability of the electrospun SPI/PVA hybrid nanofiber mats. The degradation rate of the electrospun SPI/PVA hybrid nanofiber mats was largely influenced by the amount of SPI exposed to the microorganism environment. This study suggests that the biodegradation rate and thus the lifetime of SPI-based nanofibers can be controlled by changing the ratio of SPI to PVA and also the distribution of SPI in electrospun SPI/PVA hybrid nanofibers.