Direct dispersion electrospinning

Several metal nanoparticles (NPs) (such as silver, gold or cobalt NPs) were successfully incorporated into polymer fibers via direct dispersion electrospinning. However, we point out that metal NPs are more commonly generated through an in situ procedure (see Sect. 2.2) that allows to achieve a more uniform dispersion of small size particles. 

Other zero-valent nanoparticles that were incorporated in polymer nanofibers through direct dispersion electrospinning were transition metals such as superpar-amagnetic cobalt nanoparticles. Short hybrid fibers of the fluorescent poly (methylmethacrylate-co-vinylanthracene) copolymer containing cobalt nanoparticles were fabricated as magnetic micromanipulators of neurons [14]. 

ZnS QDs with excellent fluorescent properties have been incorporated into PPV nanofibers by direct dispersion electrospinning, obtaining a good dispersirm and limited particle aggregation [46]. Similarly, ZnSe QDs were embedded in polymer nanofibers using polystyrene (PS) and PLA as polymer matrices [47]. 

Widely used industrial approaches for the produetion of polymer fibres and yarns, such as coagulation spinning and electrospinning, have also been utilised for the fabrication of polymer nanotube eomposites. In coagulation spinning, for example, composite fibres ean be produced by an injection of surfactant-stabilised nanotube dispersion in water into a rotating bath of polymer e.g. PVA) dissolved in water sueh that nanotube and polymer dispersions flowed in the same direction at the point of injection. In this case, polymer molecules replace surfactant molecules on the nanotube surface, thus destabilising the nanotubes dispersion whieh eollapses to form a fibre. These fibres can then be retrieved from the bath, rinsed and dried. 

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