Introduction of controllable 3D deformation to electrospun fibers using 3D printing

초록

Recently, electrospun polymeric fibers and fibrous membranes have received considerable attention from various fields, including biomedical, electrical, environmental, and energy engineering, because of lots of advantages. However, electrospun fibers have significant limitations in terms of structural properties, being largely constrained to thin membranes (essentially two-dimensional structures). Achieving three-dimensional structural properties, especially regarding motion or deformation, remains a significant challenge. In this study, we present a novel fibrous membrane with controllable three-dimensional deformation capabilities. To induce a specific deformation, namely a convex surface, a polymeric framework was fabricated using melt extrusion-based printing on electrospun fibers. This framework provided both deformation guidance toward the desired shape and mechanical support for the electrospun fibers. The mechanical properties and deformation behavior of the membrane were experimentally evaluated using tensile tests, demonstrating successful production of the intended deformation in the fabricated membranes. Furthermore, the membranes exhibited excellent cell viability and facilitated topographical guidance for cell attachment and culture, as confirmed by cell culture tests using fibroblast and myoblast cell lines.

키워드