TECHNOLOGY

Electrospinning

Electrospinning is a method to fabricate a continuous polymeric fiber with a nano and microscale diameter through applying an electric field to liquid polymer solution for. When an electric field is applied to the polymer droplet hanging by the end of the capillary tube, an electric charge is induced in the polymer. This generates a force against the surface tension which causes the surface of the liquid polymer to deform into a conical shape known as a 'Taylor cone'. When the electric field surpasses the surface tension, fibers are ejected from the tip of the Taylor cone.

 Electrospinning technology makes for easy spinning at room temperature, control of the surface structure and hybridization, and allows most polymers can be used.

Elctrospinning advantages

ARTIPORE's technology

Why nanofibers

Nanofibers are fibrous structure with an extremely fine diameter ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers for a large surface area per unit mass and high flexibility, attracting attention in a variety of industrial fields. Due to the introduction of functional groups on the material's  surface, the reatction of atoms or ions and relatively easy adhesion of nanoparticles, demand for nanofibers is rapidly increasing in the nanotechnology, materials science, and life science fields.


Application of nanofibers

Biotechnology and medicine

One of the fastest growing fields of application for electrospun nanofibers is that of regenerative medicine for cartilage, bone, skin tissues, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, lung tissues, heart tissues, etc. With a structure similar to extracellular matrices (ECM), electrospun fibers are particularly suitable for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Electrospinning can fabricate biocompatible polymeric fibers with not only the different materials but also the various morphological properties such as diameter and deposition direction allowing application in various ECM structures and tissue with different chemical and physical properties.

Environmental engineering

Nanofibers are used in products such as materials for filter media or masks. With a large surface to mass ratio, nanofibers can be used to separate particles in gases or liquids with excellent filtration efficiency and porosity. Nanofibers are recognized as being eco-friendly and are mainly applied in filtration as an eco-friendly material, with applications that can be broadly divided into air filters, water filters, fuel fiters, and antibacterial nanofibers for filters.

Functional products

With improvemnets in the electrospinning process, the field of nanofiber manufacturing is expected to diversify into areas such as clothing and medical textiles. Clothing made of nanofibers has excellent water repellence as well as breathability, preventing contaminants from easily penetrating the fabric and allowing moisture to easily escapte. They are currently applied to sports and protective clothing, with a scope of application expected to expand in the future to mass production in areas such as general clothing and running shoes.

Electronic materials

Through reduction technology via heat treatment of polymer, it is possible to manufacture not only polymers but also nanofibers composed of various materials such as carbon, metal, metal oxide, ceramic, and glass. Through this, electronic materials such as supercapacitors, secondary battery electrodes, fuel cell electrodes and transparent electrodes in the energy and electronics industries are expected.

Medical nanofbers

The most promising applications for electrospun nanofibers are found in biotechnology and medicine. Many companies and universities around the world involved in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and textiles are researching and developing technologies and products in these areas.

Characteristics of nanofibers

field of application

Regenerative medicine

Recently, various biocompatible polymers are used as scaffold materials in the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Exemplary ones are PLA, PGA, PCL, chitosan, and collagen. Electrospinning can use all the polymers to fabricate nanofibers without severe difficulty and the nanofibers are being applied as crucial materials in tissue enginnering technologies with biomimicry, biocompatibility and microporosity. Especially, electrospun nanofibers randomly deposited or aligned can provide unique and different environment from existing cell culture ones. For example, the aligned nanofibers can induce directional tissue growth on nerve cells, muscle cells, etc.

Healing wounds

Biodegradable polymer nanofibers promote skin regeneration through pores that prevent bacteria from passing through while ensuring the exchange of liquids and gases.

Drug delivery

Local treatment is an important application field of drug-containing nanofibers. The fibers are placed in the area where the drug is to be applied, treating the wound in the target area by releasing it over the surface of the fibers.