Magnetospinning apparatus for low-magnetic materials and methods of use

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide magneto-spinning apparatus, methods of use, magnetospun material (e.g., a fiber such as a low- or non-magnetic fiber), and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magneto-spinning apparatus, comprising
 a device that delivers a fiber precursor material, and   a magnet positioned a distance from the device, wherein the fiber precursor material is drawn to the magnet to form a fiber.   wherein the device is configured to deliver the fiber precursor material and a secondary material, wherein the device is configured so that the fiber precursor material and the secondary material are adjacent one another at a tip of the device.   
     
     
         2 . A method of forming a fiber, comprising:
 drawing a fiber precursor material from an aperture of a device towards a magnet positioned a distance from the aperture to form a fiber;   dispensing a secondary material from a second aperture of the device so that the fiber precursor material is adjacent the secondary material;   moving the magnet to extend the length of the fiber;   moving the magnet so that the fiber wraps around a portion of a post positioned a distance from the magnet; and   moving the magnet, post, or both so that the fiber extends from the magnet to the post, is wrapped around a portion of the post, and extends back toward the magnet.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary material is a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 drawing the fiber precursor material through the cross-linking material towards a magnet positioned a distance from the aperture to form the fiber, wherein the cross-linking material cross-links the fiber precursor material.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fiber is a non-magnetic or low-magnetic fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-linking material is selected from the group consisting of: a CaCl 2 -water solution, hexamethylene diamine, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber precursor material includes a component selected from: alginate, sebacoyl chloride, hexane, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-linking material is CaCl 2 -water solution and the fiber precursor material is alginate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary material is a magnetic fiber precursor material, wherein the secondary material and the magnetic fiber precursor material are immiscible in one another, wherein as a droplet of magnetic fiber precursor material is drawn to the magnet, the secondary material is drawn with the magnetic fiber precursor material to form a fiber of the secondary material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary material is selected from the group consisting of: as nylons, polyethylene, polystyrene, polylactide, polyglycolide, polypropylene, polyacetylene, polyphenylene vinylene, polypyrrole, polyesters, polyurethanes, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber precursor material includes a polymer dissolved in a solvent to form a polymer mixture, and the polymer mixture is mixed with magnetic particles. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of:
 nylon, polyethylene, polystyrene, polylactide, polyglycolide, polypropylene, polyacetylene, polyphenylene vinylene, polypyrrole, polyester, polyurethane, polycaprolactone, combinations of these, and blends of these.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles exhibit an effective magnetic moment, μ eff , greater than zero. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles are selected from the group consisting of: Fe 3 O 4 ; Fe 2 O 3;  Ni; Co; Nd 2 Fe 14 B; SmCo 5 ; Al x Ni y Co z Cu a Ti b Fe c , with x, y, z, a, b and c such that the composition has about 8-12 wt % of Al, about 15-26 wt % of Ni, about 5-24 wt % Co, about 0-6 wt % of Cu, about 0-1 wt % of Ti and the remainder to complete 100 wt % in Fe; [Cr(NH 3 ) 6 ]Br 2 ; (NH 4 ) 2 [Mn(SO 4 ) 2 ]; (NH 4 )[Fe(SO 4 ) 2 ]; VO(acac) 2 ; and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the magnetic particle is less than the diameter of the magnetic fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles are in a magnetic fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber has a diameter of about 50 nm to 20 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: water, chloroform, ethanol, cyclohexane, tetrahydrofuran and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solvent has a low dielectric constant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber precursor material includes a dopant, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of: a phosphorescent material, a fluorescent material, a SWCNT, a MWCNT, hexagonal BN nanotube, graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, silica, TiO 2 , an organic UV filter, a protein, a cell, a peptide, a stem cell, a therapeutic agent, and a combination thereof.