UNIFORM, HIGH BASIS WEIGHT NANOFIBER FABRICS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Described herein are devices, compositions and methods relating to the production of high basis weight, non-woven nanofiber polymer fabrics. In certain embodiments, described herein are modifications to free-surface, needle-less or nozzle-less electrospinning devices that permit the production of such high basis weight, non-woven nanofiber polymer fabrics. Also described are the fabrics themselves and the fabrics including one or more biologically active agents to be released upon contact with a biological tissue. Such fabrics can incorporate biologically active agents in various combinations that permit, for example, burst and/or sustained release kinetics of one or more, preferably two or more biologically active agents.

主权项

1. A nozzle-less electrospinning device comprising:an electrospinning electrode and a collecting electrode comprising connections for a DC power supply, the electrospinning electrode and the collecting electrode spaced apart and establishing an electric field between the electrospinning electrode and the collecting electrode when DC power is supplied;
the collecting electrode comprising a first end and a second end; the electrospinning electrode comprising a continuously fed or static charged electrode member partially submerged or carrying an entrained polymer solution to permit electrospinning fibers of the polymer towards the collecting electrode; a substrate located between the electrospinning electrode and the collecting electrode such that electrospun polymer fibers become deposited on the substantially planar substrate when in use; a first shield comprised of a first insulating material member, having a dielectric constant of at least 1.2, situated between the substrate and the collecting electrode and extending from the first end of the collecting electrode towards the second end of the collecting electrode such that a portion of the electric field is shielded by the first insulating material member and a gap of unshielded collecting electrode is formed extending from an end of the first insulating material member towards the second end of the collecting electrode; wherein the first shield increases the uniform area of an electrospun polymer mat deposited on the substrate relative to the uniform area of a polymer mat deposited in the absence of the first shield.