Study on the Mechanical Properties and Superhydrophilicity of Electrospun Coaxial Gel-PLA/PHBV Core–Sheath Nanofibers

The strength and hydrophilicity of nanofiber materials for tissue engineering have always been a significant challenge. This paper presents the design and preparation of PLA&Gel/PHBV core–sheath nanofibers that combine strength and super hydrophilicity using electrospinning technology. Compared to the original materials, the addition of gelatin simultaneously enhances both the strength and hydrophilicity of the materials, with the mechanical and hydrophilic properties of PLA&20 wt%Gel/PHBV nanofibers reaching optimal values of 7.45 MPa and 2.2°, respectively. The increase in strength is attributed to the entanglement effect caused by the gelatin molecular chains, which hinders the relative sliding of the molecular chains. The enhancement in hydrophilicity is due to the introduction of a large number of hydrophilic groups from Gel, improving the material's hydrophilicity. Additionally, the polar groups in gelatin and the emergence of a network pore structure significantly increase the material's water absorption rate. This work provides new insights into the design and preparation of nanofiber materials. Graphical A design and preparation method of electrospun fiber membranes with high strength and toughness and super-hydrophilicity.