Electrostatic Flocking of Insulative and Biodegradable Polymer Microfibers for Biomedical Applications. Issue 19 (4th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCarthy, Alec; John, Johnson V.; Saldana, Lorenzo; Wang, Hongjun; Lagerstrom, Matthew; Chen, Shixuan; Su, Yajuan; Kuss, Mitchell; Duan, Bin; Carlson, Mark A.; Xie, Jingwei
• Is Part Of: Advanced healthcare materials. Volume 10:Issue 19(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-07-04
• Subjects: biphasic scaffolds -- electrostatic flocking -- microfibers -- percolation theory -- wet spinning; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-2640

Abstract

Abstract: Electrostatic flocking, a textile engineering technique, uses Coulombic driving forces to propel conductive microfibers toward an adhesive‐coated substrate, leaving a forest of aligned fibers. Though an easy way to induce anisotropy along a surface, this technique is limited to microfibers capable of accumulating charge. This study reports a novel method, utilizing principles from the percolation theory to make electrically insulative polymeric microfibers flockable. A variety of well‐mixed, conductive materials are added to multiple insulative and biodegradable polymer microfibers during wet spinning, which enables nearly all types of polymer microfibers to accumulate sufficient charges required for flocking. Biphasic, biodegradable scaffolds are fabricated by flocking silver nanoparticle (AgNP)‐filled poly( ε ‐caprolactone) (PCL) microfibers onto substrates made from 3D printing, electrospinning, and thin‐film casting. The incorporation of AgNP into PCL fibers and use of chitosan‐based adhesive enables antimicrobial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The fabricated scaffolds demonstrate both favorable in vitro cell response and new tissue formation after subcutaneous implantation in rats, as evident by newly formed blood vessels and infiltrated cells. This technology opens the door for using previously unflockable polymer microfibers as surface modifiers or standalone structures in various engineering fields. Abstract : Electrostatic flocking has the ability to create standalone anisotropic structures and modify object surfaces. A method is described to flock electrically‐insulative and biodegradable fibers using conductive fillers. Flocked nanofiber membranes, 3D‐printed meshes, and self‐folding conduits are fabricated using the modified flocking technique. 3D tissue scaffolds generated by electrostatic flocking are evaluated in vitro and in vivo.