Corn starch nanofilaments obtained by electrospinning

Nanofilamentos de almidón de maíz obtenidos por electrospinning

J.G. Ledezma-Oblea¹, E. Morales-Sánchez²*, M. Gaytán-Martínez, J.D. Figueroa-Cárdenas⁴, V.A. Gaona-Sánchez⁵

¹ Universidad Politécnica de Pénjamo, Carretera a Penjamo s/n. Penjamo, Guanajuato, México

² CICATA-IPN Unidad Querétaro, Cerro Blanco No. 141. Querétaro, Qro. CP 76090. México. *Corresponding author. E-mail: emoraless@ipn.mx.

⁴ CINVESTAV, IPN Unidad Querétaro, Libramiento Norponiente No. 2000. Querétaro, CP 76240. México.

⁵ ENCB-IPN. Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica. Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Casco de Santo Tomás, CP 11340, México D.F.

Received November 20, 2014
Accepted June 1, 2015

Abstract

Until today, there are not reports of nanofilaments from starch. Therefore, the aim of this research was to find the conditions for obtaining nanofilaments from natural polymers by the electrospinning process. An electrospinning prototype system built at laboratory was used. The performance of native corn starch water suspension (control), and succinated corn starch mixed with water, glycerol and surfactant were evaluated by electrospinning. Several processing parameters were critical for obtaining nanofilaments, among them were distance between needle and collector, voltage, conductivity, dielectric constant as well as water suspension viscosity. Native starch was not appropriate for obtaining nanofilaments due to particles agglomeration by retrogradation. To overcome those problems, several mixtures of succinated starch, surfactant Tween-20 and glycerol were evaluated. The viscosity was reduced from 664 cP in native starch mixture to 28 cP in succinated corn starch/Tween 20/glycerol, and the resulting low viscosity together with high dielectric constant >253 were adequated for achieving nanofilament of average diameter of 200 nm by electrospinning due to formation of Taylor's cone. Corn starch nanofilaments have several amazing characteristics making them optimal for many applications as scaffolds in regenerative medicine, thickeners and glues in other industries.

Key words: starch, nanofilament, electrospinning.

Resumen

Actualmente, no hay publicaciones de nanofilamentos elaborados con almidón. Por tanto el objetivo de esta investigación fue encontrar condiciones para obtener nanofilamentos de polímeros naturales utilizando el proceso de electrospinning. Se utilizó almidón de maíz nativo y almidón succinatado mezclado con glicerol, surfactante y agua para elaborar las soluciones. Las condiciones críticas de procesamiento para obtener nanofilamentos fueron distancia entre aguja y colector, voltaje aplicado, flujo de solución, conductividad, constante dielóctrica y viscosidad. No fue posible obtener nanofilamentos a partir de almidón de maíz nativo debido a que se aglomera y no fluye uniformemente. Para corregir ese problema, varias suspensiones de almidón nativo y succinatado, Tween 20 y glicerol fueron evaluadas. La viscosidad en la suspensión de almidón nativo fue de 664 cP y se redujo a 28 cP en almidón succinatado/Tween 20/glicerol. El almidón succinatado, Tween 20 y glicerol permitieron condiciones para obtener nanofilamentos de diámetro de 200 nm. La baja viscosidad de 28 cP así como una alta constante dieléctrica >253 en la suspensión fueron los parámetros importantes para obtener nanofilamentos debido a que se puedo formar el cono de Taylor. Los nanofilamentos tienen potencial uso en aplicaciones como andamios en medicina regenerativa o como espesantes y adhesivos en otras industrias.

Palabras clave: almidón, nanofilamento, electrospinning.

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Acknowledgements

V.A. Gaona-Sánchez wishes to express gratitude to CONACYT and PIFI-IPN for the scholarship provided by each of the institutions. This research was funded through project 20140625, 20140827 and 20151350.

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