Summary
Blends of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) combine a slow-degrading hydrophobic polyester with a water-soluble, hydrophilic polymer, giving electrospun fibres whose properties can be tuned for biomedical and packaging uses. This dissertation studies the fabrication of PCL/PEO nanofibres by electrospinning and, in particular, the radiolytic effects that ionising (gamma) radiation produces in them — relevant both to radiation sterilisation and to controlled degradation. The work examines how the blend is processed into nanofibres and how gamma irradiation, alongside hydrolytic degradation, alters the material. By characterising the fibres before and after irradiation, the study clarifies how radiation dose and the PCL/PEO composition affect fibre structure and stability, informing the design of electrospun blends intended to undergo radiation treatment.