Department of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Service Site, Academia Sinica

We disclose the first observation during electrospinning that a novel self-directing single jet may emerge from the combination of mechanical and electrical bending instabilities guided by charge-balancing occurring on the collector electrode. The alternations of commonly observed whipping motion and the newly found cantilever-like single jet enable layer-by-layer self-construction of reproducible 3D microfibrous scaffolds (MFS) consisting of dual fiber morphologies, namely, a base/top layer with buckled/random fiber mat, respectively. Physical characterization revealed that the porosity and mechanical properties of the scaffold can be tailored precisely with excellent reproducibility. MFS has better 3D inter-connected pores and 10-fold enhanced stretchability. Overall findings implicate that the unique properties of our microfibers may extend to applications far beyond tissue engineering.

1. Self-guiding single polymer jet.
2. High-reproducibility. 
3. Scaffold properties can be controllable and tunable. 
4. Higher tensile/mechanical strength. 
5. Gradient porous structure and broader pore size distribution. 
6. Good structural integrity.
7. Durable.
8. Eco-friendly (biodegradable).

Fig1. Electrospinning process. a) Schematic illustration of electrospinning process of self-directing jet producing hybrid scaffold and traditional random fiber formation. b) Layer-by-layer deposition (peelable discrete layers). c) 3D Template direct-writing.