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Dr. Urszula Stachewicz
AGH Univeristy of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland

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0 Biomimetics
0 Electrospinning
0 Electrospray
0 Membranes
0 Microscopy

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fibers
Microscopy
Electrospinning
wetting
Scaffolds
Membranes
surface properties
FIB-SEM
3D tomography

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Paper
Published: 21 June 2021 in Molecular Systems Design & Engineering
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Polar bear hair is known for its superior thermal insulation properties protecting from frigid water and freezing weather conditions. However, this microscopy study of polar bear hair is related to...

ACS Style

Urszula Stachewicz. Microstructure study of fractured polar bear hair for toughening, strengthening, stiffening designs via energy dissipation and crack deflection mechanisms in materials. Molecular Systems Design & Engineering 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Urszula Stachewicz. Microstructure study of fractured polar bear hair for toughening, strengthening, stiffening designs via energy dissipation and crack deflection mechanisms in materials. Molecular Systems Design & Engineering. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Urszula Stachewicz. 2021. "Microstructure study of fractured polar bear hair for toughening, strengthening, stiffening designs via energy dissipation and crack deflection mechanisms in materials." Molecular Systems Design & Engineering , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 21 May 2021 in Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
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The most common injuries of the human musculoskeletal system are related to soft tissue structures such as tendons or ligaments. To repair torn structures, surgical intervention and application of a biological or synthetic graft may be required. A typical procedure for the processing, storage, and distribution of soft tissue grafts involves at least two freezing/thawing (F/T) cycles. Even though repeated F/T cycles decrease the mechanical performance and change the structure of tendons, it is unclear whether there exists a maximum number of F/T cycles above which tendons should not be approved for use as a tissue allograft. To fill this research gap, we present an ex vivo study on the effects of repetitive F/T cycles on the biomechanical stability of bovine superficial digital flexor tendon tissue. Using mechanical testing supported with scanning electron microscopy imaging, we show that multiple F/T cycles affect the viscoelastic and structural properties of tissue by significantly reducing its tensile modulus after the 3rd or 4th F/T cycle (depending on the strain range), stress drop during relaxation after the 8th F/T cycle (regardless the strain values), mechanical hysteresis after the 10th F/T cycle, and by causing a significant decrease in collagen fibril diameter. Our results provide a deeper insight into understanding the mechanisms responsible for tissue damage during multiple F/T cycles, and thus, may be useful for the future optimization of tissue storage protocols.

ACS Style

Martyna Ekiert; Joanna Karbowniczek; Urszula Stachewicz; Andrzej Mlyniec. The effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on the viscoelastic properties and microstructure of bovine superficial digital flexor tendon. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 2021, 120, 104582 .

AMA Style

Martyna Ekiert, Joanna Karbowniczek, Urszula Stachewicz, Andrzej Mlyniec. The effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on the viscoelastic properties and microstructure of bovine superficial digital flexor tendon. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2021; 120 ():104582.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martyna Ekiert; Joanna Karbowniczek; Urszula Stachewicz; Andrzej Mlyniec. 2021. "The effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on the viscoelastic properties and microstructure of bovine superficial digital flexor tendon." Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 120, no. : 104582.

Journal article
Published: 19 May 2021 in Composites Science and Technology
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An understanding of the reinforcement mechanism in composites is crucial for the development of novel materials where the application is limited by their mechanical properties. One of the methods used to obtain high performance composites is reinforcement with short fibers. Polymeric materials, such as electrospun polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibers, have a very high tendency to fragment into regular short fibers after applying very low stress. This phenomenon was used to reinforce a polycarbonate (PC) core-shell structure (PMMA-PC) by using fragmented short PMMA fibers for reinforcement in the critical length limits. Mechanical testing revealed an increase of maximum stress and Young's modulus of almost 260% and 630%, respectively, for PMMA-PC fiber meshes. The observation of core-shell fibers after mechanical testing was confirmed by using confocal microscopy, showing very regular short fragments of PMMA fibers inside the PC shell. This work demonstrates a hierarchical approach that can be taken for reinforcement of a single fiber on the nanoscale and a composite on the macroscale.

ACS Style

Daniel P. Ura; Krzysztof Berniak; Urszula Stachewicz. Critical length reinforcement in core-shell electrospun fibers using composite strategies. Composites Science and Technology 2021, 211, 108867 .

AMA Style

Daniel P. Ura, Krzysztof Berniak, Urszula Stachewicz. Critical length reinforcement in core-shell electrospun fibers using composite strategies. Composites Science and Technology. 2021; 211 ():108867.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel P. Ura; Krzysztof Berniak; Urszula Stachewicz. 2021. "Critical length reinforcement in core-shell electrospun fibers using composite strategies." Composites Science and Technology 211, no. : 108867.

Research article
Published: 26 April 2021 in ACS Nano
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Access to clean water is a global challenge, and fog collectors are a promising solution. Polycarbonate (PC) fibers have been used in fog collectors but with limited efficiency. In this study, we show that controlling voltage polarity and humidity during the electrospinning of PC fibers improves their surface properties for water collection capability. We experimentally measured the effect of both the surface morphology and the chemistry of PC fiber on their surface potential and mechanical properties in relation to the water collection efficiency from fog. PC fibers produced at high humidity and with negative voltage polarity show a superior water collection rate combined with the highest tensile strength. We proved that electric potential on surface and morphology are crucial, as often designed by nature, for enhancing the water collection capabilities via the single-step production of fibers without any postprocessing needs.

ACS Style

Daniel P. Ura; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Ewa A. Sroczyk; Tommaso Busolo; Mateusz M. Marzec; Andrzej Bernasik; Sohini Kar-Narayan; Urszula Stachewicz. Surface Potential Driven Water Harvesting from Fog. ACS Nano 2021, 15, 8848 -8859.

AMA Style

Daniel P. Ura, Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Ewa A. Sroczyk, Tommaso Busolo, Mateusz M. Marzec, Andrzej Bernasik, Sohini Kar-Narayan, Urszula Stachewicz. Surface Potential Driven Water Harvesting from Fog. ACS Nano. 2021; 15 (5):8848-8859.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel P. Ura; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Ewa A. Sroczyk; Tommaso Busolo; Mateusz M. Marzec; Andrzej Bernasik; Sohini Kar-Narayan; Urszula Stachewicz. 2021. "Surface Potential Driven Water Harvesting from Fog." ACS Nano 15, no. 5: 8848-8859.

Research article
Published: 30 March 2021 in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
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Triboelectric generators are excellent candidates for smart textiles applications due to their ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Such devices can be manufactured into yarns by coating a conductive core with a triboelectric material, but current triboelectric yarns lack the durability and washing resistance required for textile-based applications. In this work, we develop a unique triboelectric yarn comprising a conducting carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn electrode coated with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fibers deposited by a customized electrospinning process. We show that the electrospun PVDF fibers adhere extremely well to the CNT core, producing a uniform and stable triboelectric coating. The PVDF–CNT coaxial yarn exhibits remarkable triboelectric energy harvesting during fatigue testing with a 33% power output improvement and a peak power density of 20.7 μW cm–2 after 200 000 fatigue cycles. This is potentially due to an increase in the active surface area of the PVDF fiber coating upon repeated contact. Furthermore, our triboelectric yarn meets standard textile industry benchmarks for both abrasion and washing by retaining functionality over 1200 rubbing cycles and 10 washing cycles. We demonstrate the energy harvesting and motion sensing capabilities of our triboelectric yarn in prototype textile-based applications, thereby highlighting its applicability to smart textiles.

ACS Style

Tommaso Busolo; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Malavika Nair; Urszula Stachewicz; Sohini Kar-Narayan. Triboelectric Yarns with Electrospun Functional Polymer Coatings for Highly Durable and Washable Smart Textile Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2021, 13, 16876 -16886.

AMA Style

Tommaso Busolo, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Malavika Nair, Urszula Stachewicz, Sohini Kar-Narayan. Triboelectric Yarns with Electrospun Functional Polymer Coatings for Highly Durable and Washable Smart Textile Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2021; 13 (14):16876-16886.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tommaso Busolo; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Malavika Nair; Urszula Stachewicz; Sohini Kar-Narayan. 2021. "Triboelectric Yarns with Electrospun Functional Polymer Coatings for Highly Durable and Washable Smart Textile Applications." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13, no. 14: 16876-16886.

Paper
Published: 15 March 2021 in RSC Advances
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This research shows the crucial role of hydrophobicity in fog water collection by polyamide (PA) nanofibers by comparing electrospun meshes from hydrophobic PA11 to those from hydrophilic PA6.

ACS Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. The importance of nanofiber hydrophobicity for effective fog water collection. RSC Advances 2021, 11, 10866 -10873.

AMA Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Urszula Stachewicz. The importance of nanofiber hydrophobicity for effective fog water collection. RSC Advances. 2021; 11 (18):10866-10873.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. 2021. "The importance of nanofiber hydrophobicity for effective fog water collection." RSC Advances 11, no. 18: 10866-10873.

Journal article
Published: 13 January 2021 in Applied Surface Science
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Biodegradability or materials physicochemical stability are the key biomaterials selection parameters for various medical and tissue engineering applications. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a natural copolymer known from its biocompatibility with great support for cells growth and attachment on films and fibers. In our studies, the physicochemical properties of electrospun PHBV fibers and spin-coated films aged for 1, 4 and 8 weeks were analyzed using bulk (FTIR) and surface chemistry (XPS) methods and water contact angle. Further, we characterized the zeta potential changes after aging, by means of electrokinetic measurements, and cell responses to it, using NIH 3T3 murine fibroblasts. Colorimetric MTS cell viability test allowed the assessment of cell proliferation. Additionally, the morphology of fibroblasts and biointerfaces were studied by confocal laser and electron scanning microscopy (CLSM and SEM). These studies indicated that the activity, attachment and proliferation of fibroblasts is independent of aging of PHBV fibers and films. PHBV films show very stable zeta potential over 8 weeks of aging, opposite to PHBV fibers. Importantly, the flat film of PHBV increases cell proliferation, while the fibrous meshes are an excellent support for their stretching. The results of the study revealed clear advantages of PHBV films and fibrous meshes in cell-material interaction.

ACS Style

Łukasz Kaniuk; Sara Ferraris; Silvia Spriano; Thomas Luxbacher; Zuzanna Krysiak; Krzysztof Berniak; Angelika Zaszczynska; Mateusz M. Marzec; Andrzej Bernasik; Paweł Sajkiewicz; Urszula Stachewicz. Time-dependent effects on physicochemical and surface properties of PHBV fibers and films in relation to their interactions with fibroblasts. Applied Surface Science 2021, 545, 148983 .

AMA Style

Łukasz Kaniuk, Sara Ferraris, Silvia Spriano, Thomas Luxbacher, Zuzanna Krysiak, Krzysztof Berniak, Angelika Zaszczynska, Mateusz M. Marzec, Andrzej Bernasik, Paweł Sajkiewicz, Urszula Stachewicz. Time-dependent effects on physicochemical and surface properties of PHBV fibers and films in relation to their interactions with fibroblasts. Applied Surface Science. 2021; 545 ():148983.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Łukasz Kaniuk; Sara Ferraris; Silvia Spriano; Thomas Luxbacher; Zuzanna Krysiak; Krzysztof Berniak; Angelika Zaszczynska; Mateusz M. Marzec; Andrzej Bernasik; Paweł Sajkiewicz; Urszula Stachewicz. 2021. "Time-dependent effects on physicochemical and surface properties of PHBV fibers and films in relation to their interactions with fibroblasts." Applied Surface Science 545, no. : 148983.

Journal article
Published: 31 December 2020 in Membranes
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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition, caused by wide genetic, environmental, or immunologic factors. AD is very common in children but can occur at any age. The lack of long-term treatments forces the development of new strategies for skin regeneration. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a well-developed, tissue-compatible biomaterial showing also good mechanical properties. In our study, we designed the electrospun PCL patches with controlled architecture and topography for long-term release in time. Hemp oil shows anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, increasing also the skin moisture without clogging the pores. It can be used as an alternative cure for patients that do not respond to traditional treatments. In the study, we tested the mechanical properties of PCL fibers, and the hemp oil spreading together with the release in time measured on skin model and human skin. The PCL membranes are suitable material as patches or bandages, characterized by good mechanical properties and high permeability. Importantly, PCL patches showed release of hemp oil up to 55% within 6 h, increasing also the skin moisture up to 25%. Our results confirmed that electrospun PCL patches are great material as oil carriers indicating a high potential to be used as skin patches for AD skin treatment.

ACS Style

Sara Metwally; Daniel P. Ura; Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. Electrospun PCL Patches with Controlled Fiber Morphology and Mechanical Performance for Skin Moisturization via Long-Term Release of Hemp Oil for Atopic Dermatitis. Membranes 2020, 11, 26 .

AMA Style

Sara Metwally, Daniel P. Ura, Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Łukasz Kaniuk, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Urszula Stachewicz. Electrospun PCL Patches with Controlled Fiber Morphology and Mechanical Performance for Skin Moisturization via Long-Term Release of Hemp Oil for Atopic Dermatitis. Membranes. 2020; 11 (1):26.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Metwally; Daniel P. Ura; Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Electrospun PCL Patches with Controlled Fiber Morphology and Mechanical Performance for Skin Moisturization via Long-Term Release of Hemp Oil for Atopic Dermatitis." Membranes 11, no. 1: 26.

Journal article
Published: 29 December 2020 in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
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Atopic dermatitis (eczema), one of the most common disease and also most difficult to treat, is seeking for novel development not only in medicine but also in bioengineering. Moisturization is the key in eczema treatment as dry skin triggers inflammation that damages the skin barrier. Thus, here we combine electrospun hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic nylon 6 (PA6) with oils to create patches helping to moisturize atopic skin. The fibrous membranes manufactured using electrospinning: PS, PA6, composite PS – PA6 and sandwich system combining them were characterized by water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) and fluid uptake ability (FUA). To create the most effective moisturizing patches we use borage, black cumin seed and evening primrose oil and tested their spreading. We show a great potential of our designed patches, the oil release tests on a skin and their moisturizing effect were verified. Our results distinctly reveal that both fiber sizes and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of polymer influence oil spreading, release from membranes and WVTR measurements. Importantly, the direct skin test indicates the evident increase of hydration for both dry and normal skin after using the patches. The electrospun patches based on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers have outstanding properties to be used as oil carriers for atopic dermatitis treatment.

ACS Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Gabriela Maniak; Urszula Stachewicz. Moisturizing effect of skin patches with hydrophobic and hydrophilic electrospun fibers for atopic dermatitis. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2020, 199, 111554 .

AMA Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Gabriela Maniak, Urszula Stachewicz. Moisturizing effect of skin patches with hydrophobic and hydrophilic electrospun fibers for atopic dermatitis. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2020; 199 ():111554.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Gabriela Maniak; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Moisturizing effect of skin patches with hydrophobic and hydrophilic electrospun fibers for atopic dermatitis." Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 199, no. : 111554.

Research article
Published: 21 December 2020 in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
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Water resources are shrinking year by year, and fog water collectors (FWCs) are already being used in humid regions, where populations have limited access to traditional water resources. The aim of this study was to use electrospun fibers as FWCs to collect water. Two polymers with different wetting and mechanical properties were successfully combined to create a Janus structure from hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic cellulose acetate (CA). These fibers, with a specially designed gutter shape, were electrospun using a side-nozzle system. The resulting side-by-side PS-CA fiber meshes proved to be a more effective system for fog collection under controlled laboratory conditions than either commercially available Raschel mesh or PS and CA fibers alone. The efficiency of Janus PS-CA fiber mesh achieved a rate of 71 mg·cm–2·h–1. The reinforcement of PS with CA made it possible to obtain durable and mechanically stable PS-CA meshes with higher tensile strength than PS or CA fiber mesh alone. These new PS-CA Janus fibers proved to be a robust and highly efficient system for water harvesting applications.

ACS Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Jian Zhu; Daniel P. Ura; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczyński; Lothar Benker; Seema Agarwal; Urszula Stachewicz. Enhanced Water Harvesting System and Mechanical Performance from Janus Fibers with Polystyrene and Cellulose Acetate. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2020, 9, 180 -188.

AMA Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Jian Zhu, Daniel P. Ura, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Adam Gruszczyński, Lothar Benker, Seema Agarwal, Urszula Stachewicz. Enhanced Water Harvesting System and Mechanical Performance from Janus Fibers with Polystyrene and Cellulose Acetate. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 2020; 9 (1):180-188.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Jian Zhu; Daniel P. Ura; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczyński; Lothar Benker; Seema Agarwal; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Enhanced Water Harvesting System and Mechanical Performance from Janus Fibers with Polystyrene and Cellulose Acetate." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 9, no. 1: 180-188.

Review article
Published: 06 November 2020 in Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
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Electrospinning is one of the most important methods used for the production of nanostructured materials. Electrospun nanofibers are used in a wide spectrum of applications such as drug delivery systems, filtration, fog harvesting, tissue engineering, smart textiles, flexible electronics, and more. Control of the manufacturing process is essential for further technology developments. In electrospinning, relative humidity is a crucial parameter that influences nearly all the properties of the collected fibers, such as morphology, mechanical properties, liquid retention, wetting properties, phase composition, chain conformation, and surface potential. Relative humidity is a determining component of a reliable process as it governs charge dissipation and solvent evaporation. This review summarizes the electrospinning process and its applications, phase separation processes, and impact of relative humidity on the properties of polymer fibers. We investigated relative humidity effects on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers using over 20 polymers and hundreds of solvent systems. Most importantly, we underlined the indisputable importance of relative humidity in process repeatability and demonstrated its impact on almost all aspects of fiber production from a solution droplet to an electrospun network.

ACS Style

Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. The impact of relative humidity on electrospun polymer fibers: From structural changes to fiber morphology. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 2020, 286, 102315 .

AMA Style

Piotr K. Szewczyk, Urszula Stachewicz. The impact of relative humidity on electrospun polymer fibers: From structural changes to fiber morphology. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2020; 286 ():102315.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piotr K. Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "The impact of relative humidity on electrospun polymer fibers: From structural changes to fiber morphology." Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 286, no. : 102315.

Journal article
Published: 16 October 2020 in Fibers
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Processing parameters in electrospinning allow us to control the properties of fibers on a molecular level and are able to tailor them for specific applications. In this study, we investigate how relative humidity (RH) affects the mechanical properties of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The mechanical properties of single fibers were carried out using a specialized tensile stage. The results from tensile tests were additionally correlated with high-resolution imaging showing the behavior of individual fibers under tensile stress. The mechanical characteristic is strongly dependent on the crystallinity, chain orientation, and fiber diameter of electrospun PVDF fibers. Our results show the importance of controlling RH during electrospinning as the mechanical properties are significantly affected. At low RH = 30% PVDF fibers are 400% stiffer than their counterparts prepared at high RH = 60%. Moreover, the vast differences in the strain at failure were observed, namely 310% compared to 75% for 60% and 30% RH, respectively. Our results prove that humidity is a crucial parameter in electrospinning able to control the mechanical properties of polymer fibers.

ACS Style

Piotr Szewczyk; Daniel Ura; Urszula Stachewicz. Humidity Controlled Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Fibers. Fibers 2020, 8, 65 .

AMA Style

Piotr Szewczyk, Daniel Ura, Urszula Stachewicz. Humidity Controlled Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Fibers. Fibers. 2020; 8 (10):65.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piotr Szewczyk; Daniel Ura; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Humidity Controlled Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Fibers." Fibers 8, no. 10: 65.

Journal article
Published: 19 September 2020 in Materials
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Electric field strength and polarity in electrospinning processes and their effect on process dynamics and the physical properties of as-spun fibers is studied. Using a solution of the neutral polymer such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) we explored the electrospun jet motion issued from a Taylor cone. We focused on the straight jet section up to the incipient stage of the bending instability and on the radius of the disk of the fibers deposited on the collecting electrode. A new correlation formula using dimensionless parameters was found, characterizing the effect of the electric field on the length of the straight jet, L˜E~E˜0.55. This correlation was found to be valid when the spinneret was either negatively or positively charged and the electrode grounded. The fiber deposition radius was found to be independent of the electric field strength and polarity. When the spinneret was negatively charged, L˜E was longer, the as-spun fibers were wider. The positively charged setup resulted in fibers with enhanced mechanical properties and higher crystallinity. This work demonstrates that often-overlooked electrical polarity and field strength parameters influence the dynamics of fiber electrospinning, which is crucial for designing polymer fiber properties and optimizing their collection.

ACS Style

Daniel P. Ura; Joan Rosell-Llompart; Angelika Zaszczyńska; Gleb Vasilyev; Arkadiusz Gradys; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Ron Avrahami; Alena O. Šišková; Arkadii Arinstein; Paweł Sajkiewicz; Eyal Zussman; Urszula Stachewicz. The Role of Electrical Polarity in Electrospinning and on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of As-Spun Fibers. Materials 2020, 13, 4169 .

AMA Style

Daniel P. Ura, Joan Rosell-Llompart, Angelika Zaszczyńska, Gleb Vasilyev, Arkadiusz Gradys, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Ron Avrahami, Alena O. Šišková, Arkadii Arinstein, Paweł Sajkiewicz, Eyal Zussman, Urszula Stachewicz. The Role of Electrical Polarity in Electrospinning and on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of As-Spun Fibers. Materials. 2020; 13 (18):4169.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel P. Ura; Joan Rosell-Llompart; Angelika Zaszczyńska; Gleb Vasilyev; Arkadiusz Gradys; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Ron Avrahami; Alena O. Šišková; Arkadii Arinstein; Paweł Sajkiewicz; Eyal Zussman; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "The Role of Electrical Polarity in Electrospinning and on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of As-Spun Fibers." Materials 13, no. 18: 4169.

Research article
Published: 18 August 2020 in ACS Applied Bio Materials
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Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a widespread disorder, with researchers constantly looking for more efficacious treatments. Natural oils are reported to be an effective therapy for dry skin, and medical textiles can be used as an alternative or supporting therapy. In this study, fibrous membranes from poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVB) with low and high molecular weights were manufactured to obtained nano- and micrometer fibers via electrospinning for the designed patches used as oil carriers for atopic skin treatment. The biocompatibility of PVB patches was analyzed using proliferation tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which combined with focused ion beam (FIB) allowed for the 3D visualization of patches. The oil spreading tests with evening primrose, black cumin seed and borage were verified with cryo – SEM, showed the advantage nanofibers have over microfibers as carriers for low viscosity oils. The skin tests expressed the usability and the enhanced oil delivery performance for electrospun patches. We demonstrate that through material nano- and microstructure, commercially available polymers such as PVB have great potential to be deployed as biomaterial in medical applications, such as topical treatments for chronic skin conditions.

ACS Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Sara Metwally; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Ewa A. Sroczyk; Petra Peer; Paulina Lisiecka - Graca; Russell J. Bailey; Emiliano Bilotti; Urszula Stachewicz. Nano- and Microfiber PVB Patches as Natural Oil Carriers for Atopic Skin Treatment. ACS Applied Bio Materials 2020, 3, 7666 -7676.

AMA Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Łukasz Kaniuk, Sara Metwally, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Ewa A. Sroczyk, Petra Peer, Paulina Lisiecka - Graca, Russell J. Bailey, Emiliano Bilotti, Urszula Stachewicz. Nano- and Microfiber PVB Patches as Natural Oil Carriers for Atopic Skin Treatment. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2020; 3 (11):7666-7676.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Sara Metwally; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Ewa A. Sroczyk; Petra Peer; Paulina Lisiecka - Graca; Russell J. Bailey; Emiliano Bilotti; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Nano- and Microfiber PVB Patches as Natural Oil Carriers for Atopic Skin Treatment." ACS Applied Bio Materials 3, no. 11: 7666-7676.

Article
Published: 07 July 2020 in Journal of Bionic Engineering
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Collagen is one of the most versatile tissues of living organisms that comes in many shapes and sizes, providing functions ranging from tissue matrix through, ligament formation up to enabling mineralization in teeth. The detailed light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations conducted in this study, allowed us to investigate morphology, sizes and crimp patterns of collagen fibers observed in crocodile skin and teeth. Moreover, the microscopy study revealed that although two completely different tissues were investigated, many similarities in their structure based on collagen fibers were observed. Collagen type I is present in crocodile skin and teeth, showing the flexibility in naturally constructed tissues to obtain various functions. The crimp size investigation of collagen fibers confirmed experimentally the theoretical 67 nm D-periodicity expected for collagen type I. The collagen in teeth provides a matrix for crystal growth and in the skin provides flexibility and is a precursor for corneous scales. Importantly, these observations of the collagen in the skin and tooth structure in crocodiles play an important role in designing biomimetic materials with similar functions and properties.

ACS Style

Piotr Krzysztof Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. Collagen Fibers in Crocodile Skin and Teeth: A Morphological Comparison Using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Journal of Bionic Engineering 2020, 17, 669 -676.

AMA Style

Piotr Krzysztof Szewczyk, Urszula Stachewicz. Collagen Fibers in Crocodile Skin and Teeth: A Morphological Comparison Using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Journal of Bionic Engineering. 2020; 17 (4):669-676.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piotr Krzysztof Szewczyk; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Collagen Fibers in Crocodile Skin and Teeth: A Morphological Comparison Using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy." Journal of Bionic Engineering 17, no. 4: 669-676.

Research article
Published: 30 June 2020 in Crystal Growth & Design
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The effect of nonporous (NP-PCL) and porous (P-PCL) fibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) meshes, used as templates, on in vitro CaCO3 crystallization via a gas diffusion (GD) method at 20 °C for 24 h was studied. The nonporous random (NPR-PCL) and porous random (PR-PCL) and the nonporous-aligned (NPA-PCL) and porous-aligned (PA-PCL) fibrous PCL meshes were directly spun on flat or rotary collectors from 18% PCL solutions using ethyl acetate/acetone or ethyl acetate/dimethyl sulfoxide, respectively. The morphology and type of CaCO3 crystal grown on PCL fiber scaffolds were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), focused ion beam combined with scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The PCL fibers distributions affected the nucleation and stabilized calcite and vaterite polymorphs of CaCO3 with different crystal population densities. The crystal density of vaterite was higher than calcite (2:1) when the NPA-PCL and PA-PCL fibers were used as a template, but calcite predominated (2:1) on P-PCL fiber mesh with respect to the NP-PCL fiber mesh. We found that CaCO3 crystals covered the surface of PCL fibers, and some of them grown from inside of the PCL fibers showed that PCL fibers were occluded inside the CaCO3 crystals during the GD crystallization. The nano- and microscale topological features of PCL scaffolds control the diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas through PCL fiber meshes in the soaking of PCL meshes into a calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution during the GD crystallization affecting subsequently the nucleation and growth of CaCO3 crystals. Indeed, pore size feature of the micrometric A-PCL and nanometric R-PCL fiber meshes affected the intensities of the crystallographic faces of calcite and vaterite as observed by XRD. Contact angle measurements of the aqueous and crystallization liquid droplet on NPR-PCL, PR-PCL and A-PCL fibrous showed different hydrophobic character of the PCL meshes. This study shows the role of the nano- and microscale topological features and the presence of pores on PCL fiber scaffolds on the mineralization behavior of CaCO3 deposited on R-PCL and A-PCL fiber scaffolds, and by this approach various aspects of controlled CaCO3 crystallization such as nucleation and crystal growth of biomaterials based on CaCO3 can be studied with potential biotech applications.

ACS Style

Felipe Sepúlveda; Nicole Butto; José Luis Arias; Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczynski; Urszula Stachewicz; Andrónico Neira-Carrillo. Effect of Porous and Nonporous Polycaprolactone Fiber Meshes on CaCO3 Crystallization Through a Gas Diffusion Method. Crystal Growth & Design 2020, 20, 5610 -5625.

AMA Style

Felipe Sepúlveda, Nicole Butto, José Luis Arias, Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Adam Gruszczynski, Urszula Stachewicz, Andrónico Neira-Carrillo. Effect of Porous and Nonporous Polycaprolactone Fiber Meshes on CaCO3 Crystallization Through a Gas Diffusion Method. Crystal Growth & Design. 2020; 20 (8):5610-5625.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Felipe Sepúlveda; Nicole Butto; José Luis Arias; Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczynski; Urszula Stachewicz; Andrónico Neira-Carrillo. 2020. "Effect of Porous and Nonporous Polycaprolactone Fiber Meshes on CaCO3 Crystallization Through a Gas Diffusion Method." Crystal Growth & Design 20, no. 8: 5610-5625.

Journal article
Published: 25 June 2020 in Materials & Design
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Surface potential of biomaterials is a key factor regulating cell responses, driving their adhesion and signaling in tissue regeneration. In this study we compared the surface and zeta potential of smooth and porous electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers, as well as PCL films, to evaluate their significance in bone regeneration. The ’ surface potential of the fibers was controlled by applying positive and negative voltage polarities during the electrospinning. The surface properties of the different PCL fibers and films were measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), and the zeta potential was measured using the electrokinetic technique. The effect of surface potential on the morphology of bone cells was examined using advanced microcopy, including 3D reconstruction based on a scanning electron microscope with a focused ion beam (FIB-SEM). Initial cell adhesion and collagen formation were studied using fluorescence microscopy and Sirius Red assay respectively, while calcium mineralization was confirmed with energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) and Alzarin Red staining. These studies revealed that cell adhesion is driven by both the surface potential and morphology of PCL fibers. Furthermore, the ability to tune the surface potential of electrospun PCL scaffolds provides an essential electrostatic handle to enhance cell-material interaction and cellular activity, leading to controllable morphological changes.

ACS Style

Sara Metwally; Sara Ferraris; Silvia Spriano; Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Mateusz M. Marzec; Sung Kyun Kim; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczyński; Magdalena Wytrwal-Sarna; Joanna E. Karbowniczek; Andrzej Bernasik; Sohini Kar-Narayan; Urszula Stachewicz. Surface potential and roughness controlled cell adhesion and collagen formation in electrospun PCL fibers for bone regeneration. Materials & Design 2020, 194, 108915 .

AMA Style

Sara Metwally, Sara Ferraris, Silvia Spriano, Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Łukasz Kaniuk, Mateusz M. Marzec, Sung Kyun Kim, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Adam Gruszczyński, Magdalena Wytrwal-Sarna, Joanna E. Karbowniczek, Andrzej Bernasik, Sohini Kar-Narayan, Urszula Stachewicz. Surface potential and roughness controlled cell adhesion and collagen formation in electrospun PCL fibers for bone regeneration. Materials & Design. 2020; 194 ():108915.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Metwally; Sara Ferraris; Silvia Spriano; Zuzanna J. Krysiak; Łukasz Kaniuk; Mateusz M. Marzec; Sung Kyun Kim; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Adam Gruszczyński; Magdalena Wytrwal-Sarna; Joanna E. Karbowniczek; Andrzej Bernasik; Sohini Kar-Narayan; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Surface potential and roughness controlled cell adhesion and collagen formation in electrospun PCL fibers for bone regeneration." Materials & Design 194, no. : 108915.

Journal article
Published: 23 June 2020 in Sustainable Materials and Technologies
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People worldwide suffer from poor access to water, with more than 3 billion lacking basic handwashing facilities and more than 2 billion without water services at their homes. This global problem needs new, cost-effective and efficient solutions that can be employed in places with scarce water sources. One potential sustainable solution is fog water collection, inspired by the way nature harvests water from humid air via condensation processes or from fog. Currently, a common medium to collect fog with the highest water collection efficiency is the Raschel mesh. By incorporating electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers we improved water collecting efficiency of commercial Raschel mesh by more than 300%. We show a relatively simple to implement and inexpensive system that builds on top of already applied solutions and expands the capabilities of existing designs.

ACS Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Daniel P. Ura; Russell J. Bailey; Emiliano Bilotti; Urszula Stachewicz. Improving water harvesting efficiency of fog collectors with electrospun random and aligned Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers. Sustainable Materials and Technologies 2020, 25, e00191 .

AMA Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Daniel P. Ura, Russell J. Bailey, Emiliano Bilotti, Urszula Stachewicz. Improving water harvesting efficiency of fog collectors with electrospun random and aligned Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers. Sustainable Materials and Technologies. 2020; 25 ():e00191.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Daniel P. Ura; Russell J. Bailey; Emiliano Bilotti; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Improving water harvesting efficiency of fog collectors with electrospun random and aligned Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers." Sustainable Materials and Technologies 25, no. : e00191.

Short communication
Published: 18 June 2020 in Micron
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The cement – enamel junction (CEJ) gains a growing interest in clinical dentistry, due to an increasing number of idiopathic tooth resorption leading to the inevitable loss of permanent dentition. Therefore, in this research study, we investigated healthy and under resorption teeth to verify junctions’ morphology in relation to the resorption process, its initiation, and propagation. Using light and scanning electron microscopy we examined the three types of CEJ: 1) coronal cementum, 2) abutment) and 3) the gap between cementum and enamel. With energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) we analyzed the Ca and P concentration along the CEJ border. The study indicated the strict correlation between the gap junction and tooth resorption, due to the dentine exposure to the oral environment.

ACS Style

Sara Metwally; Urszula Stachewicz. Teeth resorption at cement - enamel junction (CEJ) - Microscopy analysis. Micron 2020, 137, 102913 .

AMA Style

Sara Metwally, Urszula Stachewicz. Teeth resorption at cement - enamel junction (CEJ) - Microscopy analysis. Micron. 2020; 137 ():102913.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Metwally; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Teeth resorption at cement - enamel junction (CEJ) - Microscopy analysis." Micron 137, no. : 102913.

Paper
Published: 11 June 2020 in RSC Advances
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Modification of Raschel meshes used for fog water collectors with PA6 nanofibers allow to obtain 300% higher water collection rate in collecting water from fog.

ACS Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Daniel P. Ura; Katarzyna Berent; Urszula Stachewicz. Hydrophilic nanofibers in fog collectors for increased water harvesting efficiency. RSC Advances 2020, 10, 22335 -22342.

AMA Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Piotr K. Szewczyk, Daniel P. Ura, Katarzyna Berent, Urszula Stachewicz. Hydrophilic nanofibers in fog collectors for increased water harvesting efficiency. RSC Advances. 2020; 10 (38):22335-22342.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak; Piotr K. Szewczyk; Daniel P. Ura; Katarzyna Berent; Urszula Stachewicz. 2020. "Hydrophilic nanofibers in fog collectors for increased water harvesting efficiency." RSC Advances 10, no. 38: 22335-22342.