Microtubes and methods of producing same

Abstract

A method of producing a microtube is provided. The method comprising co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries to thereby produce the microtube, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution. Also provided are electrospun microtubes.

1 . A method of producing a microtube, the method comprising: co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries to thereby produce the microtube, wherein a first polymeric solution of said two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of said two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of said shell, said first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than said second polymeric solution and a solvent of said second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving said first polymeric solution. 
   
   
       2 . A microtube comprising an electrospun shell and an electrospun coat over an internal surface of said shell. 
   
   
       3 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a solvent of said first polymeric solution evaporates faster than a solvent of said second polymeric solution. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrospinning is effected using a rotating collector. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a solvent of said second polymeric solution is capable of evaporating through said internal surface of said shell. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second polymeric solution is capable of wetting said internal surface of said shell. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said shell is from about 100 nm to about 20 micrometer. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an internal diameter of the microtube is from about 50 nm to about 20 micrometer. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second polymeric solutions are selected from the group consisting of: 10% poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) in chloroform (CHCl 3 ) and 20 dimethylforamide (DMF) (80:20 by weight) as said first polymeric solution and 4% poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in water (H 2 O) and ethanol (60:40 by weight) as said second polymeric solution, 10% PCL in CHCl 3  and DMF (80:20 by weight) as said first polymeric solution and 6% PEO in H 2 O and ethanol (60:40 by weight) as said second polymeric solution, 9% PCL in CHCl 3  and DMF (90:10 by weight) as said first polymeric solution and 7% PEO in H 2 O as said second polymeric solution, and 10% PCL in CHCl 3  and DMF (800:20 by weight) as said first polymeric solution and 9% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in water and ethanol (50:50 by weight) as said second polymeric solution. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first polymeric solution comprises polyethylene glycol (PEG). 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said shell comprises pores. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said microtube is filled with a liquid. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said liquid is blood. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second polymeric solutions are biocompatible. 
   
   
       19 . A microtube produced according to the method of  claim 1 .