Direct Jet Co-Electrospinning of Spinal Cord-Mimicking Phantom for Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

(1) Background: Spinal cord injuries and diseases necessitate sophisticated tools for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. However, the lack of reliable phantoms mimicking the complex structure of the spinal cord hinders the development and validation of advanced imaging techniques. This study aims to address this critical unmet need by exploring the application of electrospinning to create polymeric fibers resembling the human spinal cord; (2) Methods: Direct jet coaxial electrospinning (DJ-co-ES) is a specialized electrospinning process characterized by the presence of solely the straight segment of a fluid jet. The research firstly investigates the effects of various solution properties and process parameters on the formation and characteristics of core/shell fibers with polycaprolactone (PCL) as the shell and polyethylene oxide (PEO) as the core. Furthermore, the study explores the potential of these DJ-co-ES fibers as phantoms by measuring various diffusion MRI parameters; (3) Results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the successful production of hollow PCL microfibers (2–12 μm diameter) with smooth, cylindrical morphology and high orientation. The DJ-co-ES process demonstrated optimal stability when utilizing 10 w/v% PCL in DCM/DMF for the shell and 4 w/v% PEO in deionized water for the core. Additionally, the high miscibility between core and shell solvents in other core and shell solutions cases facilitated the production of fibers with smaller diameters. The findings demonstrate that the measured values fall within the range observed in both healthy and diseased spinal cord tissues; (4) Conclusions: This research paves the way for utilizing DJ-co-ES technology to develop reliable phantoms for spinal cord applications, ultimately fostering advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and research related to spinal cord conditions.