Facile Functionalization of Electrospun Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers via the Benzoxaborole-Diol Interaction

Abstract

A facile functionalization method of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) nanofiber meshes was demonstrated by utilizing the benzoxaborole-diol interaction between EVOH and benzoxaborole-based copolymers (BOP). EVOH and BOP were firstly mixed to prepare the quasi-gel-state solution with enough viscosity for electro-spinning. The fiber morphology was controlled via changing the mixing ratio of EVOH and BOP. The prepared EVOH/BOP nanofiber mesh showed good stability in aqueous solution. Over 97% of the nanofibers remained after the immersion test for 24 h in acid or alkali aqueous solutions without changing their morphology. Temperature and pH-responsive moieties were copolymerized with BOP, and cationic dye was easily immobilized into the nanofiber mesh via an electrostatic interaction. Therefore, the proposed functionalization technique is possible to perform on multi-functionalized molecule-incorporated nanofibers that enable the fibers to show the environmental stimuli-responsive property for the further applications of the EVOH materials.

Keywords

• benzoxaborole
• boroxole
• poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)
• nanofiber
• electrospinning
• gel
• smart polymer
• stimuli response
• pH response