Tuning Fe3O4 nanoparticle dispersion through pH in PVA/guar gum/electrospun membranes

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/guar gum (GG) membranes with different loads of paramagnetic iron oxide Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully electrospun using both non-alkaline and alkaline stock solutions. The nanoparticle homogeneity distribution was clearly enhanced in fibers obtained from alkaline stock solutions. This is mainly due to the interaction between GG and the metallic ion, which also leads to further dispersion of remained uncoated nanoparticles in the mixture. It was also noticed that GG favors nanoparticle stability in the mixture and contributes to nanoparticle encapsulation. X-ray results showed that all membranes were semi-crystalline. FTIR-ATR spectra showed that FeO absorption band intensity improved with increasing nanoparticle load, reaching saturation at 3.5 mg/ml Fe3O4 concentration under alkaline conditions. VSM analyses showed that the nanoparticles are paramagnetic and were successfully incorporated by the fibers. In vitro biocompatibility tests using L929 cells indicates adequate levels of cytotoxicity and cell adhesion/proliferation assays for both membranes obtained from non-alkaline and alkaline stock solutions. Therefore, they have potential for biomedical applications as biodegradable wound dressing.