title: Additive manufacturing of scaffolds with sub-micron filaments via melt electrospinning writing.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the lower resolution limits of an electrohydrodynamic process combined with direct writing technology of polymer melts. Termed melt electrospinning writing, filaments are deposited layer-by-layer to produce discrete three-dimensional scaffolds for in vitro research. Through optimization of the parameters (flow rate, spinneret diameter, voltage, collector distance) for poly-ϵ-caprolactone, we could direct-write coherent scaffolds with ultrafine filaments, the smallest being 817 ± 165 nm. These low diameter filaments were deposited to form box-structures with a periodicity of 100.6 ± 5.1 μm and a height of 80 μm (50 stacked filaments; 100 overlap at intersections). We also observed oriented crystalline regions within such ultrafine filaments after annealing at 55 °C. The scaffolds were printed upon NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO)-coated glass slide surfaces and withstood frequent liquid exchanges with negligible scaffold detachment for at least 10 days in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, D 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hochleitner
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jüngst
authors.forename: Toby D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moseke
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groll
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone