Comparative Analysis of Needleless and Needle-Based Electrospinning Methods for Polyamide 6: A Technical Note

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of needleless versus needle-based electrospinning methods on the fiber diameter of polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers under comparable conditions, with an emphasis on potential pharmaceutical applications. Additionally, it examines how varying solvent systems impact fiber diameter specifically in needleless electrospinning. In this study, it was found that fibers produced by the needleless method were thicker compared to those produced by the needle-based method, a trend attributable to the specific solution characteristics and parameter settings unique to this study. Notably, a 2 : 1 acetic acid : formic acid solvent mixture yielded the largest fiber diameters among the solvent systems assessed for needleless electrospinning. These results underscore the potential of PA6 nanofibers in pharmaceutical applications, suggesting that further optimization of electrospinning conditions could enhance their suitability. The study also discusses the implications of scale-up production using needleless technology, highlighting its viability for industrial applications over single-needle electrospinning.