title: Creating "hotels" for cells by electrospinning honeycomb-like polymeric structures.
abstract: It is well established that three-dimensional honeycomb-like nanofibrous structures enhance cell activity. In this work, we report that electrospun polymer nanofibres self-assemble into three-dimensional honeycomb-like structures. The underlying mechanism is studied by varying the polymer solution concentration, collecting substrates and working distance. The polymer solution concentration has a significant effect on the size of the electrospun nanofibres. The collection substrate and working distance affect the electric field strength, the evaporation of solvent and the discharging of nanofibres and consequently these two had a significant influence on the self-assembly of nanofibres.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edirisinghe
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Electrospinning; Honeycomb; Nanofibres; Polymer; Self-assembly