Degradation Behavior of Electrospun PLA and PLA/CNT Nanofibres in Aqueous Environment

The aim of the work was to compare the degradation behavior of electrospun nanofibres obtained from pure poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous environment. The nanofibres in the form of mats were manufactured using the electrospinning technique (ES) with potential biomedical application. To investigate the degradation behavior, one-component and composite (containing CNTs) nanofibres were compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. The changes in their morphology, structure, and selected physical and mechanical properties during incubation up to 14 days were analysed. Two types of CNTs differing in concentration of surface functional groups were used to modify the PLA nanofibres. PLA and composite nanofibres (PLA