Precisely controlled fiber deposition by electrostatic fields

Abstract

Applications of electrospinning (ES) range from fabrication of biomedical devices and tissue regeneration scaffolds to light manipulation and energy conversion, and even to deposition of materials that act as growth platforms for nanoscale catalysis. One major limitation to wide adoption of electrospun materials is the ES hardware itself, which typically requires high voltage, electric isolation, and charged and flat deposition surfaces. In the past, fabrication of structures or materials with precisely determined mesoscale morphology has been accomplished through modification of electrode shape, use of multi-dimensional electrodes or pins, deposition onto weaving looms, hand held electrospinners that allow the user to guide deposition, or electric field manipulation by lensing elements or apertures. In this work, we demonstrate an ES system that contains multiple high voltage power supplies that are independently controlled. This system produces a novel electrostatic field that enables deposition of polymers in precise, mesoscale structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Multiplex ES device comprising:
 A spinneret, which delivers a polymer;   A plurality of electrodes, wherein said electrodes are each connected to an independent high voltage power supply;   A means of controlling a voltage supplied to each of said electrodes by each said independent high voltage power supply to provide a high voltage electric field; wherein   Manipulation of said high voltage electric field between said plurality of electrodes allows for precise control of deposition of a fiber from polymer delivered by said spinneret.   
     
     
         2 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said spinneret is grounded. 
     
     
         3 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said spinneret is connected to an independent high voltage power supply. 
     
     
         4 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said means of controlling a voltage supplied to each of said electrodes is digitally controlled by a computer. 
     
     
         5 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said means of controlling a voltage supplied to each of said electrodes is by analog or mechanical means with use of switches, knobs, buttons. 
     
     
         6 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprising a or a plurality of data acquisition systems. 
     
     
         7 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said high voltage power supply provides between −30 kV and 30 kV. 
     
     
         8 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or a plurality of resistors added to a circuit of said high voltage power supply. 
     
     
         9 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprising an isolation box, which contains said spinneret and said plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spinnerets. 
     
     
         11 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 10 , wherein multiple polymers are delivered to the system by said plurality of spinnerets. 
     
     
         12 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprised of a spinneret holder, which secures said spinneret. 
     
     
         13 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , further comprised of a plurality of electrode holders, which secure said plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         14 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 12 , further comprised of mechanical or electrical components to enable movement of said spinneret. 
     
     
         15 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 13 , further comprised of mechanical or electrical components to enable movement of said plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 9 , wherein said isolation box is further comprised of an encasement and venting system to allow for the introduction of a gas. 
     
     
         17 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 9 , wherein said isolation box is further comprised of an encasement system to allow for polymer deposition under vacuum. 
     
     
         18 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said spinneret is coaxial. 
     
     
         19 . The Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 , wherein said spinneret is triaxial. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing precisely controlled fiber deposition during electrospinning comprising the steps of:
 a. delivering polymer to the Multiplex ES device of  claim 1 ; and   b. manipulating said high voltage electric field between said plurality of electrodes to precisely control deposition of said fiber.