ELECTROSPUN MEMBRANES USING NATURAL BASED MATERIALS

This thesis focuses on the development and characterization of electrospun nanofibrous membranes based on both natural and synthetic polymers. Two natural materials were investigated: gelatin, which was electrospun on its own, and alginate, which required blending with a synthetic polymer to enable electrospinning. Additionally, a fully synthetic membrane based on polycaprolactone (PCL) was produced to serve as a reference for comparative analysis. This led to the definition of two main research lines: one centered on natural materials (gelatin and alginate-based blends) and one on synthetic materials (PCL). Electrospinning processes were successfully carried out for most formulations, with the exception of the alginate/polyethylene oxide (PEO) membrane, which did not result in a stable fibrous structure. The obtained membranes were then subjected to crosslinking treatments using biocompatible agents and subsequently analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry. One membrane (crosslinked gelatin-based) was also functionalized with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and collagen/alginate gels to assess its ability to incorporate bioactive compounds. The fabricated membranes show promising features for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering (TE), wound dressings, and drug delivery, and may also hold potential in the field of sustainable textiles. Future developments may include mechanical and biological characterization and the implementation of fully natural and non-toxic crosslinking strategies compatible with the membrane materials.