Uniaxially aligned nanofibrous cylinders by electrospinning

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Aligned nanofibers offer unique properties for biomedical engineering, electronics, and energy storage.
• Fabricating 3D standalone aligned nanofiber constructs with practical dimensions remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile method for fabricating 3D standalone aligned nanofibrous cylinders.
• To demonstrate the versatility of the method with various materials and assess its potential in tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning aligned nanofibers across a uniaxial gap between two pin electrodes.
• Fabrication of cylindrical constructs with millimeter diameters and centimeter lengths.
• Culturing skeletal muscle cells on the nanofibrous cylinders.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced 3D aligned nanofibrous cylinders using polymeric and ceramic materials (PCL, chitosan/PCL, PVDF, titania).
• Demonstrated effective skeletal muscle cell alignment and dense myotube formation along the nanofiber orientation.
• Constructs exhibited high structural integrity and stability for standalone use.

Conclusions:

• The electrospinning method provides a versatile and facile approach to fabricate 3D aligned nanofibrous cylinders.
• These constructs are suitable for direct integration into devices or in vivo implantation, enhancing the applicability of aligned nanofibers.
• The method shows significant promise for applications in tissue regeneration, particularly for skeletal muscle tissue.