Development of Electrospun Nanofibrous-Walled Tubes for Potential Production of Photoluminescent Endoscopes

Novel and durable lightening photoluminescent electrospun nanofibrous-walled tubes were developed with the ability to glow like a flashlight helping to replace electric power in medical endoscopes. Simple preparation of an organic–inorganic photoluminescent nanocomposite was developed via encapsulation of rare-earth doped aluminum strontium oxide nanoscaled particles into polycaprolactone-cellulose acetate-based nanofibers. The luminescent nanofibrous-walled tubes demonstrated an excitation band at 355 nm and a photostability phosphorescence band at 517 nm. The UV–vis absorbance and emission spectra and CIE Lab color space parameters demonstrated photochromic colorimetric shifting from white under visible daylight to greenish-yellow under ultraviolet light. Both mechanical and superhydrophobic properties of the nanocomposite electrospun nanofibrous-walled tubes were explored. The nanofibrous-walled tubes exhibited an enhanced hydrophobic performance without adversely influencing its inherent characteristics. The morphology and chemical structure of the prepared phosphor nanoparticles and the performance of the phosphorescent electrospun nanofibrous-walled tubes were explored. The cytotoxicity of the generated photoluminescent aluminum strontium oxide pigment was explored. The produced nanofibrous-walled tubes demonstrated photostable long-persistent photoluminescence without fatigue upon exposure to an external ultraviolet light source.