Electrospun cactus mucilage nanofibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017157571-A1
Application number	US-201615383794-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2011
Publication date	Jun 8, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Novel electrospun nanofibers and nanofibrous membranes, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of using the same are provided. The nanofibers include a cactus mucilage, such as mucilage from Opuntia ficus - indica . An organic polymer can be added to the cactus mucilage before electrospinning. The nanofibrous membranes can be used in water filtration.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method of producing an electrospun nanofiber, comprising:
forming an electrospinning solution comprising a cactus mucilage and an organic polymer; and electrospinning the electrospinning solution to form the electrospun nanofibril.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein forming the electrospinning; solution comprises:
dissolving the cactus mucilage in a first solvent to form a first solution; dissolving the organic polymer in a second solvent to form a second solution; and combining the second solution and the first solution to form the electrospinning solution.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cactus mucilage is Opuntia ficus - indica (Ofi) mucilage.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the organic polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the organic polymer is PVA, chitosan, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or poly lactic acid (PLA).

6 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first solvent comprises acetic acid, and wherein the second solvent is water.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein electrospinning; the solution comprises electrospinning the solution in an electric field of from about 1.5×10 5 V/m to about 3.5×10 5 V/m.

8 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the electrospinning solution comprises the organic polymer and the cactus mucilage present in a ratio of either 70:30 or 50:50 (polymer:mucilage).

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cactus mucilage has a linear repeating chain of (1→4)-linked β-D-galacturonic acid and an α(1→2)-linked L-rhamnose with trisaccharide side chains of β(1→6)-linked D-galactose attached at O(4) of L-rhamnose residues.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cactus mucilage has 55 sugar residues.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrospun nanofibril has a diameter of 10 nm to 10 μm.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cactus mucilage has a xylose to arabinose ratio of about 1:2 in its peripheral chains.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the organic polymer and the cactus mucilage are present in a ratio of either 70:30 or 50:50 (organic polymer:cactus mucilage).

14 . A method of filtering contaminants from a fluid, comprising:
providing a nanofibrous membrane; and passing the fluid through the nanofibrous membrane, such that the nanofibrous membrane absorbs at least one contaminant from the fluid, wherein the nanofibrous membrane comprise at least one electrospun nanofiber comprising a cactus mucilage.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cactus mucilage is Opuntia ficus - indica (Ofi) mucilage.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrospun nanofiber further comprises an organic polymer, wherein the organic polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

17 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one electrospun nanofiber further comprises an organic polymer, wherein the organic polymer is PVA, chitosan, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or poly lactic acid (PLA), and wherein the fluid is water.

18 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cactus mucilage has a linear repeating chain of (1→4)-linked β-D-galacturonic acid and an α(1→2)-linked L-rhamnose with trisaccharide side chains of β(1→6)-linked D-galactose attached at O(4) of L-rhamnose residues.

19 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cactus mucilage has 55 sugar residues.

20 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the electrospun nanofibril has a diameter of 10 nm to 10 μm.

Assignees

• Thomas Sylvia W
• Alcantar Norma A
• Pais Yanay
• Univ South Florida

Inventors

• Thomas Sylvia W
• Alcantar Norma A
• Pais Yanay

Classifications

• Y10S57/00

  Textiles: spinning, twisting, and twining · CPC title

• C02F2305/08

  Nanoparticles or nanotubes · CPC title

• C02F1/442

  by nanofiltration · CPC title

• B01J2220/4825

  Polysaccharides or cellulose materials, e.g. starch, chitin, sawdust, wood, straw, cotton · CPC title

• B01J20/28038

  Membranes or mats made from fibers or filaments · CPC title