Alternating Current Electrospinning: A Novel and Efficient Fabrication Method for Curcumin‐Loaded Polylactic Acid Nanofibers Compared to Direct Current Electrospinning

ABSTRACT This study compares nanofibrous materials produced via needleless alternating current (AC) (novel technology) and needleless direct current (DC) electrospinning. AC electrospinning was carried out using unique laboratory equipment, while DC electrospinning was performed on the Nanospider. Identical input data were employed to ensure consistency in the evaluation, including the use of the same polymer, solvent system, model substance, and its concentrations during AC and DC electrospinning. The polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers are loaded with curcumin (CUR) at concentrations of 10% wt., 25% wt., and 50% wt. relative to the PLA content, while the control samples consist of pristine PLA fibers. This study demonstrates that the efficiency of needleless AC electrospinning is almost twice as high, reaching 11.2 ± 0.6 g/h, compared to needleless DC electrospinning, which has an efficiency of 5.2 ± 1.1 g/h. Nanofibrous materials produced via AC electrospinning exhibit larger fiber diameters with greater standard deviations, higher hydrophilicity after ethylene oxide sterilization (contact angle ranging from 23° to 58°), and higher pore sizes. In contrast, nanofibrous materials produced via DC electrospinning are characterized by smaller and more homogeneous fiber diameters and smaller pore sizes. The DC electrospinning technology enables a slightly higher drug loading efficiency.