Development of 3D-fibrous structure and fluffy yarn via dual-polarity co-electrospinning process

Abstract

In this research we had developed a novel electrospinning process, a dual polarity co-electrospinning, that could be used to produce 3 dimensional structure.The research was separated into 3 main parts i.e. a) an investigation of processing parameters effect on formation and morphology of poly (caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun fibers, b) a development of dual polarity co-electrospinning process and c) a study on the effect of fiber size and fiber mat structureon cell matrix interaction. In the first part, the effect of PCL solution concentration, applied voltage, collecting distance and solution flow rate on PCL fiber morphology were assessed. In the second part, the dual polarity co-electrospinning process were developed. This technique utilized a positive and negative charge simultaneously. Under certain spinning condition, a 3 dimension structures from PCL electrospun fiber in the 3D-fibrous and fluffy yarn structure were formed. The effect of the applied opposite charge, flow rate, fiber size, ratio of fiber and spinning rate of the collectoron fiber formation were studied. The morphologies and porosity (distribution of porosity and pore size) of a 3D-fibrous and fluffy yarn structure of PCL were determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and porosimeter. The 3D-fibrous and fluffy yarn had more porosity compared to fiber mat from the ordinary electrospinning process.In the last part, PCL fiber mats with three different fiber sizes, PCL fiber in the form of 3D-fibrous structure and fluffy yarns were prepared and used to evaluate effects of fiber size and fiber structure on cell adhesion and proliferation using L929 as a model cell. The results showed that both size and structure played a role in prohibiting or accommodating cellular distribution or penetration into the under layer of electrospun fiber mat.