Electro-spinning methods and uses thereof

Abstract

A method of electrospinning a plurality of fibers (150) is provided. The method includes providing at least one collector (120) and a single extruder (110). The extruder (110) includes a channel (112) housing a precursor liquid (190). The method includes dispensing the precursor liquid (190) from the extruder (110), and in response to an electric field, collecting fibers (150) formed from the precursor liquid (190) by a collector (120) to form a hollow casing (210) of fibers (150).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of electrospinning a plurality of fibers, the method comprising:
 providing at least one collector comprising:
 a hub configured to rotate in a circumferential direction; and 
 a plurality of spindles extending from the hub, the plurality of spindles each including a spindle end being a portion of the spindle positioned furthest from the hub, each spindle end forking into a plurality of tines, each tine having a tip that together define a plane, the plane including a point colinear with an axis axially running through a center of a face of the hub; 
   providing a single extruder comprising:
 a tube defining a channel, the channel housing a precursor liquid; and 
 a spinneret extending axially from the tube and including at least one aperture located at a spinneret end, the spinneret in fluid communication with the channel; 
   positioning the point a distance from the at least one aperture;   applying a voltage differential between the spinneret and the at least one collector;   dispensing the precursor liquid from the spinneret via the at least one aperture; and   rotating the at least one collector in the circumferential direction to collect the precursor liquid dispensed from the spinneret via the at least one aperture to form the fibers, the collection of the fibers forms a hollow casing of fibers, wherein the hollow casing comprises a top face and a circumferential face.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the at least one collector is performed at a rotational speed between 100 rotations per minute and 1100 rotations per minute. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spindles consists of six spindles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage differential is between 50 V and 100 kV. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is a plurality of apertures and the precursor liquid is dispensed from each of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is exactly one aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the precursor liquid comprises a solvent and a fiber component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fiber component is selected from a group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose acetate, polyaniline, polypyrrole, polylactic acid, and polyglycolide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fiber component comprises the polyvinylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polyvinylpyrrolidone is present in the precursor liquid in a concentration of between 15 w/v and 20 w/v. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the solvent is selected from a group consisting of ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, water, formaldehyde, and dimethylformamide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have an average diameter of between 1 nm and 5 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distance is between 10 cm and 2 m. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber component is dispensed at a rate of between 0.1 mL/hr and 10 mL/hr. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two collectors are provided. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers form a scaffold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  17 , wherein the fibers comprise cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow casing comprises the fibers generally aligned with each other along the circumferential face. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow casing comprises the fibers not generally aligned with each other along the top face. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spindles extend curvilinearly away from the hub.