Biocompatible tactic poly(methyl methacrylate) electrospun fibers

Fibers of pristine syndiotactic PMMA (s-PMMA) and isotactic PMMA (i-PMMA) and their blends in the ratio of s:i = 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 were prepared using the straight-forward electrospinning technique. Bead free uniform fibers were obtained at 10 wt% concentration for i-PMMA and blends whereas at 22 wt% for s-PMMA. Effects of polymer concentration, applied voltage and feed rate of polymer solutions during electrospinning on fiber morphologies were reflected from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization of surface functional groups was done via attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) while the thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). ATR-FTIR data showed shifts in peaks in pristine and blend fibers due to differences in conformations. TGA results showed that during the onset of degradation s:i 1:1 had an improved stability compared to pristine fibers and rest of blends. DSC results showed single glass transition temperatures for pristine and blend fibers proving complete miscibility of polymers in blends. Blend fibers showed intermediate glass transition temperatures when compared to pristine ones. Biocompatibility of these fibers was explored through co-culturing with HeLa cells. It was found that HeLa cells showed greater adhesion and proliferation on the blends compared to their pristine counterparts.