Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 11.1.
Schematic illustration of the basic setup of electrospinning.
filled with a polymer solution (Fig. 11.1). When the electrostatic
chargebecomeslargerthanthesurfacetensionofthepolymersolu-
tion at the capillary tip, a polymer jet is created. This fine polymer
jet travels from the charged capillary to the grounded mandrel and
allows for the production of continuous micro- to nano-scale poly-
mer fibers, which can be collected in various orientations to cre-
ate unique structures with different compositions and mechanical
properties.
9
Electrospun fibers have been considered for use as scaffolds for
engineeringtissuessuchascartilages,bones,skin,bloodvessels,the
heart, nerves, tendons/ligaments,
etc
.
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To prepare these different
kinds of scaffolds, there is a wide variety of variables to be con-
sidered, including the choice of material, fiber orientation, poros-
ity, surface modification, fibrous scaffold structure,
etc
. Natural and
synthetic materials, as well as hybrid blends of the two, which can
provide an optimal combination of mechanical and biomimetic
properties, are all good candidates to be considered for fabricat-
ing electrospun fibrous scaffolds according to different applica-
tion requirements. Fiber orientation (random, aligned, 2D and 3D
micropatterned)andporosity/poresizeofelectrospunscaffoldscan
be controlled and optimized by adjusting the processing parame-
ters, such as solution composition, the form of the collecting plate,
etc
. Duetotheflexibilityincontrollingthestructure ofthescaffolds,
which affects the properties of the materials, electrospun scaffolds
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