Abstract
Collagen-based scaffolds are gaining more prominence in the field of tissue engineering. However, readily available collagen scaffolds either lack the rigid structure (hydrogels) and/or the organization (biopapers) seen in many organ tissues, such as the cornea and meniscus. Direct-write electrospinning is a promising potential additive manufacturing technique for constructing highly ordered fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering and foundational studies in cellular behavior, but requires specific process parameters (voltage, relative humidity, solvent) in order to produce organized structures depending on the polymer chosen. To date, no work has been done to optimize direct-write electrospinning parameters for use with pure collagen. In this work, a custom electrospinning 3D printer was constructed to derive optimal direct write electrospinning parameters (voltage, relative humidity and acetic acid concentrations) for pure collagen. A LabVIEW program was built to automate control of the print stage. Relative humidity and electrospinning current were monitored in real-time to determine the impact on fiber morphology. Fiber orientation was analyzed via a newly defined parameter (spin quality ratio (SQR)). Finally, tensile tests were performed on electrospun fibrous mats as a proof of concept.
Highlights
Electrospinning is a well-established technique for creating nanofibers that can be used for a variety of applications
Relative humidity, and acetic acid concentration to establish parametersglass for direct-write electrospinning asfor ana Collagenwere fibersvaried were spun directly optimal onto Teflon-coated slides to evaluate spin quality additive manufacturing
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of fibers produced concentration varied to establish optimal parameters for direct-write electrospinning as an with
Summary
Electrospinning is a well-established technique for creating nanofibers that can be used for a variety of applications. The core technique was first demonstrated more than a century ago [1]; recent interest in biomaterials has caused a resurgent interest in it as a method for developing scaffolds for regenerative medicine and wound dressings [2]. In a classic far-field electrospinning (FFES) setup, a syringe pump perfuses a polymer solution through a conductive syringe tip to a grounded collector with a high voltage power supply. When enough voltage is applied between the syringe and collector circuit, charge buildup in the viscoelastic fluid pumped through the syringe deforms the meniscus into a “Taylor cone” and a nanofiber jet erupts from the tip of the cone when the electrical force overcomes surface tension. Dried fibers accumulate onto the grounded collector electrode surface located below the syringe
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