An experimental design to optimize the fiber diameters of electrospun nanofibrous membranes

In this report, an experimental matrix design based on the Taguchi method was conducted to optimize the fiber diameters of electrospun nanofibrous membranes. Nanofibrous membranes of polylactide-polyglycolide were fabricated using an electro fiber spinning setup that consisted of a syringe and needle, a ground electrode, an aluminum sheet, and a high voltage supply. After electrospinning, the fiber diameter of electrospun membranes was determined by analyzing SEM images using a commercial image analysis program. For the parameters selected in the experiments, the concentration of polymeric solutions was found to be the principal factor affecting the fiber diameters of electrospun nanofibrous membranes. Additionally, the fiber diameters increased with the distance between the syringe and the collecting plate but decreased with the voltage supply. It has been shown that the experimental matrix design based on the Taguchi method was appropriate in optimizing the fiber diameters of electrospun nanofibrous membranes.