Model pdc 001

CSS was synthesized, according to a procedure detailed in our previous studies [7 (link),38 (link)]. An acidic solution of CSS at a concentration of 69% w/w was prepared in a mixed solvent that comprises 1 mL of tetrahydrofuran (Sigma Aldrich) and 10μL of 37% aqueous HCl. The solution was incubated overnight in a 40°C water bath, permitting CSS hydrolysis and polymerization. The hydrolyzed and polymerized CSS solution was then electrospun into lipid fibrous membranes using a custom made device with a flow rate of 0.5 μL/min, a voltage of 12 kV, and a spinneret-to-ground distance of 12 cm. The fibers were collected on silicon chips.
A solution of PCL (MW: 80 kDa, Sigma Aldrich) at a concentration of 10% w/v was prepared in 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (MW: 168.04, Sigma Aldrich). The solution was incubated at room temperature for a minimum of 6 h, briefly vortexed, and then electrospun into fiber with a flow rate of 20 μL/min, a voltage of 12 kV, and a spinneret-to-ground distance of 12 cm. The electrospun PCL fibers were collected on silicon chips that were placed on top of the aluminum foil collector plate. Approximately half of the collected PCL fibers immediately underwent an air-plasma treatment (Harrick Plasma, Model PDC-001) for 10 min under vacuum, generating plasma-treated PCL fibers.