Three dimensional structures having aligned nanofibers, methods of making such structures, apparatus for making such structures, and laminated compositions of matter including one or more layers of aligned nanofibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017203484-A1
Application number	US-201615388508-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus for producing a three dimensional nanofiber structure includes (1) at least two spaced electrodes; (2) a spinner adapted to rotate the at least two spaced electrodes; (3) a syringe assembly adapted to eject a polymer solution from a syringe of the syringe assembly towards the at least two spaced electrodes while the at least two spaced electrodes are rotated by the spinner; and (4) a power supply assembly for providing the two spaced electrodes at a first electric potential, and for providing the syringe at a second electric potential which is different from the first electric potential. A composition of matter may include (1) a least one layer of nanofibers in which a distribution of angles of fibers is “aligned;” and (2) at least one gel layer, wherein the at least one layer of microfibers and the at least one gel layer alternate to form a laminate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for producing a three dimensional nanofiber structure, the method comprising:
a) rotating at least two spaced electrodes provided at a first electric potential; and b) ejecting a polymer solution from a syringe, provided at a second electric potential which is different from the first electric potential, towards the at least two spaced electrodes while the at least two spaced electrodes are rotating.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the syringe is spaced between 3-10 cm from the at least two spaced electrodes.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two spaced electrodes rotate at a speed of 1000-1500 rpm, and preferably of 1050-1350 rpm.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein a difference between the first electric potential and the second electric potential is at least 10,000 V DC, and preferably 15,000 V DC.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer solution is ejected from the syringe at a rate of at least 1 mL per hour, and preferable 1.5 mL per hour.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the syringe has a 20 ga needle.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
moving the syringe relative to the at least two spaced electrodes while the at least two spaced electrodes are rotated and the polymer solution is ejected.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second electric potentials is ground.

9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a substrate within a space defined by the rotation of the at least two spaced electrodes, wherein the polymer solution ejected from the syringe is also directed towards the substrate, thereby providing nanofibers on the substrate.

10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
providing, after the substrate has been provided with nanofibers, a gel layer onto the nanofibers provided on the substrate.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the gel layer is provided onto the nanofibers provided onto the substrate by (1) dipping the nanofiber-provided substrate into the alginate solution, and (2) then dipping the resulting nanofiber-provided substrate into CaCl2 solution to crosslink the alginate.

12 . A nanofiber product, preferably produced by the method of claim 1 , in which a distribution of angles of fibers is “aligned”.

13 . The nanofiber product of claim 12 wherein an average diameter of fibers in the nanofiber product are between 90 and 300 nm, and preferably between 94 and 295 nm.

14 . Apparatus for producing a three dimensional nanofiber structure, the apparatus comprising:
a) at least two spaced electrodes; b) a spinner adapted to rotate the at least two spaced electrodes; c) a syringe assembly adapted to eject a polymer solution from a syringe of the syringe assembly towards the at least two spaced electrodes while the at least two spaced electrodes are rotated by the spinner; and d) a power supply assembly for providing the two spaced electrodes at a first electric potential, and for providing the syringe at a second electric potential which is different from the first electric potential.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the syringe is spaced between 3-10 cm from the at least two spaced electrodes.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the spinner is adapted to rotate the at least two spaced electrodes rotate at a speed of 1000-1500 rpm, and preferably of 1050-1350 rpm.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the difference between the first electric potential and the second electric potential is at least 10,000 V DC, and preferably 15,000 V DC.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein syringe assembly is adapted to eject the polymer solution from the syringe at a rate of at least 1 mL per hour, and preferable 1.5 mL per hour.

19 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the syringe has a 20 ga needle.

20 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second electric potentials is ground.

21 . A composition of matter comprising:
a) a least one layer of nanofibers in which a distribution of angles of fibers is “aligned”; and b) at least one gel layer, wherein the at least one layer of microfibers and the at least one gel layer alternate to form a laminate.

22 . The composition of matter of claim 21 wherein a first of the at least one layer of nanofibers is provided on a substrate.

23 . The composition of matter of claim 21 wherein a first of the at least one gel layers is provided on a substrate.

Assignees

• Univ New York

Inventors

• Grigoryev Nikita
• Levon Kalle

Classifications

• B29C64/241

  for rotary motion · CPC title

• D01D5/0076

  characterised by the collecting device, e.g. drum, wheel, endless belt, plate or grid (D01D5/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C37/0025

  Applying surface layers, e.g. coatings, decorative layers, printed layers, to articles during shaping, e.g. in-mould printing (moulding on preformed layers as inserts B29C70/68; applying fluent material to surfaces in general B05) · CPC title

• D04H1/76

  otherwise than in a plane, e.g. in a tubular way · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title