Tissue regeneration and wound care may be assisted by the use of electrospun nanofibres as artificial scaffolds for cellular growth in the future.
Electrospinning has been around for over a hundred years; however use of the technology to manufacture nanofibres is a relatively new development. In its simplest form, the process consists of a capillary which holds a polymer solution, two electrodes and a high voltage power supply. The polymer is extruded through the capillary and a wet fibre is drawn out by electrostatic forces. The wet fibre carries surface electrical charge and as it dries the density of the charge increases until it reaches a certain point and the fibre self extends, producing nanofibres. The process repeats itself creating a non woven material which can be collected. Almost any soluble polymer can be electrospun including natural polymers, polymer blends, nanoparticle and drug impregnated polymers.
Research at STFC’s Micro and Nano Technology Centre (MNTC) has seen the development of micro and nanotechnology electrospinning nozzle arrays and delivery systems. These innovations are designed to extend current electrospinning capabilities so that novel nanofibre platforms can be reproducibly made in volume; a key criterion if that process is to be accepted for industrial production.
Applications currently being investigated by researchers at the MNTC lie within Healthcare, Environmental, Energy and Security markets and include tissue regeneration, drug delivery, membranes for polymer batteries and protective clothing e.g. for first responders.
Development of the electrospinning technology has led to the spin-out of The Electrospinning Company Ltd located at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus. The company is offering access on a commercial basis to electrospinning equipment, and expertise to organisations that would like to explore the technique’s potential in their specific applications, without the committing to capital infrastructure investments.