Tunable Spun Fiber Constructs in Biomedicine: Influence of Processing Parameters in the Fibers’ Architecture
Electrospinning and wet-spinning have been recognized as two of the most efficient and promising techniques for producing polymeric fibrous constructs for a wide range of applications, including optics, electronics, food industry and biomedical applications. They have gained considerable attention in the past few decades because of their unique features and tunable architectures that can mimic desirable biological features, responding more effectively to local demands. In this review, various fiber architectures and configurations, varying from monolayer and core-shell fibers to tri-axial, porous, multilayer, side-by-side and helical fibers, are discussed, highlighting the influence of processing parameters in the final constructs. Additionally, the envisaged biomedical purposes for the examined fiber architectures, mainly focused on drug delivery and tissue engineering applications, are explored at great length.
Download the full research paper as PDF: Tunable Spun Fiber Constructs in Biomedicine Influence of Processing Parameters in the Fibers’ Architecture
Introduction
Among these approaches, electrospinning and wet-spinning are the ones considered most relevant for biomedical uses, particularly for drug delivery systems, since they allow to control fiber production in such a way that complex fiber structures with different organizations and architectures can be attained: (1) side-by-side fibers, (2) porous, (3) helical, (4) core-shell, (5) hollow, (6) tri-axial, (6) multilayered. Such morphologies require a precise control of processing parameters. Indeed, polymer spinnability, as well as the fiber porosity and diameter, are dependent not only on the solution properties (e.g., concentration, polymer nature and viscosity) but as well on the system processing parameters (e.g., injection flow rate, coagulation bath, applied voltage) and environment conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) In the present work, the relationship between processing parameters and fiber morphology, organization, and architecture are analyzed in great detail. The principles of electrospinning and wet-spinning are here emphasized; however, contrary to previous reviews that focused on uniaxial fibers, special attention is given to complex architectures and their main applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering fields. These fiber constructs are gaining more attention each day and, hence, we are here exposing the reasons behind their selection.