3D printed emitters for nanofibers production using VAT photopolymerization

Abstract

Electrospinning is a method centered on electrostatic forces for fabricating continuous nanofibers with a substantial active surface area per mass unit in which the morphology of electro spun nanofiber is influenced by some parameters such as voltage, space electric field distribution, surface charge density, liquid supply rate, solution surface tension, viscosity, conductivity, and humidity. This technique is being applied by designing a Multiplexed Source using VAT photopolymerization which will allow to produce the nanofibers. Several test probes varying geometrically (Hexagonal, Pentagonal, Quadrangular, Triangular and Circular) were designed to analyze the resolution of the EnvisionTEC and to observe if the multiplexed source geometry nozzles should be changed or remain the same. After an Error Data Analysis, it was concluded that the circular geometry was the one to work with because it does not get clogged by the time the experiments were computed thus because it does not have any angle or angles that affects its manufacturing in comparison with the other geometries. In this study the polymer used to produce the nanofibers was polyethylene oxide (PEO) with a molecular wight of 900,000 gr/mol. The electrospinning experiments were conducted at flow rates ranging from 0.1 and 1 ml / hr and working distances between 12.5 and 16.5 cm. The voltage remains constant at the value of 20kV. The collected fibers were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Based on the solution and processing conditions, different structures from droplets, and heavily beaded fibers to defect-free mats were obtained. PEO’s concentration was 4% w/v and the volume of Deionized water was 96 ml. The solution was diluted and prepared by using a water bath for 8 hours until the PEO is completely diluted. Based on the solution and processing conditions, different structures from droplets, and heavily beaded fibers to defect-free mats were obtained and measured their diameter (if applicable) by using the image j software and by computing a Data analysis of the average diameter per sample of nanofibers check out which one is the optimal combination of parameters by producing the nanofibers. The final application of this is the manufacture of a multilayer patch for a biomedical application that is the tissue regeneration for second degree burning wounds.