Reactive electrospinning of cross-linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanofibers and elastic properties of individual hydrogel nanofibers in aqueous solutions

Elastomeric nanofibers composed of cross-linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) are synthesized via a reactive electrospinning process. In this process, the photoinduced polymerization and cross-linking of polymers take place simultaneously during the electrospinning process. The produced nanofibers are mostly within the diameter range of 100-500 nm in the dry state. When they are immersed in aqueous solution, the nanofibers exhibit remarkably large elastic properties characteristic of bulk hydrogel materials.