低压近场静电纺丝ZnO/PVDF复合微米纤维阵列的制备及压力传感性

利用低压近场静电纺丝技术制备了ZnO/PVDF(聚二偏氟乙烯)微米纤维平行阵列, 通过光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线能量色散光谱(EDS)对ZnO/PVDF微米纤维进行了表征. 该复合纤维的平均直径约为40 μm. EDS分析测试证明ZnO纳米颗粒已经掺杂进入了平行微米纤维中. 压电性能和电学性能测试结果表明, ZnO/PVDF微米纤维阵列的压电性能增强. 研究结果表明, 近场电纺丝ZnO/PVDF复合微米纤维阵列在压电型压力传感器和纳米发电机领域具有潜在的应用价值.     

Production of carbon nano- and microfibers by methane pyrolysis on zirconia

The production of carbon nano- and microfibers by pyrolysis of methane (mains gas) on three ZrO₂ samples prepared by different methods, at 400–700°C, methane flow rates of 175–1050 mL/min, and process times up to 4 h was studied. Comparatively long carbon bamboo-like microfibers having diameters of 0.24–0.31 μm were found to form on ZrO₂, their weights and linear growth rates were assessed, and the process was shown to not slow down over time. The electrical conductivities of the fibers were measured.     

Mechanically tough dry-free ionic hydrogel microfibers swollen in aqueous electrolyte prepared by microfluidic devices

Soft conducting materials in the shape of microfibers with various functional geometries are crucial for soft electronics. To develop highly stretchable conducting microfibers, a microfluidic method is used to prepare hydrogels in a double-network structure. Based on the coagulation of chitosan in cold water and simultaneous photopolymerization and photocrosslinking of N-isopropylacrylamide and N-diethylacrylamide, long microfibers with controlled uniform diameters can be obtained at the junction of a coaxially aligned microchannel device. After further reinforcement of the chitosan chain and exchange of the medium of the hydrogel microfiber with an aqueous electrolyte of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, the prepared ionic hydrogel exhibits high conductivity and stretchability and dry-free properties. Owing to its mechanical robustness and ionic conductivity, we envision a highly stretchable soft electrode with the prepared ionic hydrogel microfiber that can be stretched up to 900%. This fiber has potential for applications in soft electronics and wearable devices.     

Morphological and mechanical properties of nascent polyethylene fibers produced via ethylene extrusion polymerization with a metallocene catalyst supported on MCM‐41 particles

Polyethylene (PE) fibers were prepared by ethylene extrusion polymerization with an MCM‐41‐supported titanocene catalyst. The morphological and mechanical properties of these nascent PE fibers were investigated. Three levels of fibrous morphologies were identified in the fiber samples through an extensive scanning electron microscopy study. Extended‐chain PE nanofibrils with diameters of about 60 nm were the major morphological units present in the fiber structure. The nanofibrils were parallel‐packed into individual microfibers with diameters of about 1–30 μm. The microfibers were further aggregated irregularly into fiber aggregates and bundles. In comparison with commercial PE fibers and data reported in the literature, the individual microfibers produced in situ via ethylene extrusion polymerization without posttreatment exhibited a high tensile strength (0.3–1.0 GPa), a low tensile modulus (3.0–7.0 GPa), and a high elongation at break (8.5–20%) at 35 °C. The defects in the alignment of the nanofibrils were believed to be the major reason for the low modulus values. It was also found that a slight tensile drawing could increase the microfiber strength and modulus. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2433–2443, 2003     

Spinning and Characterization of Conducting Microfibers

Conducting microfibers of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4‐styrene sulfonate), having a diameter ranging between 4.6 and 16 μm, were fabricated by a wet‐spinning technique. The as‐spun microfiber had no notable orientation of polymer chains with poor crystallinity, and electrical conductivity was in the order of 10⁻¹ S · cm⁻¹ regardless of the diameter. Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break for the resulting microfiber were 1.1 ± 0.3 GPa, 17.2 ± 5.1 MPa, and 4.3 ± 2.3%, respectively.

SEM image of a PEDOT/PSS microfiber reported here.     

Microfluidic chip-based fabrication of PLGA microfiber scaffolds for tissue engineering

In this paper, we have developed a method to produce poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microfibers within a microfluidic chip for the generation of 3D tissue engineering scaffolds. The synthesis of PLGA fibers was achieved by using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic spinning device in which linear streams of PLGA dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were precipitated in a glycerol-containing water solution. By changing the flow rate of PLGA solution from 1 to 50 microL/min with a sheath flow rate of 250 or 1000 microL/min, fibers were formed with diameters that ranged from 20 to 230 microm. The PLGA fibers were comprised of a dense outer surface and a highly porous interior. To evaluate the applicability of PLGA microfibers generated in this process as a cell culture scaffold, L929 fibroblasts were seeded on the PLGA fibers either as-fabricated or coated with fibronectin. L929 fibroblasts showed no significant difference in proliferation on both PLGA microfibers after 5 days of culture. As a test for application as nerve guide, neural progenitor cells were cultured and the neural axons elongated along the PLGA microfibers. Thus our experiments suggest that microfluidic chip-based PLGA microfiber fabrication may be useful for 3D cell culture tissue engineering applications.     

Direct RP‐HPLC determination of underivatized amino acids with online dual UV absorbance,fluorescence, and multiple electrochemical detection

The combined use of a dual‐UV detector, a fluorimetric one and of a multiple electrochemical (EC) detector equipped with a dual electrode, consisting of a conventional size 3 mm diameter glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and of a pair of 30 μm thick carbon microfibers, is proposed for the determination of 15 amino acids, two dipeptides and creatinine. This online coupling of the above detection modes could partially replace amino acid analysis by derivatization methods, since it solves problems concerning the direct detection of selected underivatized amino acids. Additionally, it was proved that the use of multiple‐detection allows positive peak identification in a single chromatographic run, yields more information for free amino acids and solves in some cases the problem of chromatographic resolution. In order to optimize the detection conditions of the underivatized amino acids and related compounds by different detectors, their detection characteristics were determined by adequate preliminary experiments. The electro‐oxidation characteristics of the underivatized compounds of interest were determined by hydrodynamic voltammetry using a flow cell with a macrodisc GCE and by ex‐situ voltammetry using both a GCE of conventional size and a carbon fiber disk microelectrode. Important practical advantages of microfiber and microdisk electrodes with respect to macroelectrodes were demonstrated.     

Ruthenium nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous carbon microfibers: preparation, characterization and catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of D-glucose

Ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles dispersed in mesoporous carbon microfibers were prepared using alumina microfibers as the templates via a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) route. Characterized data showed that Ru nanoparticles were embedded in the mesoporous carbon matrix. The samples were found to possess a specific surface area as high as 750 m(2) g(-1), pore sizes in the range of 3-5 nm, lengths in the range of 5-10 μm, and a width of about 0.5 μm. The Ru catalysts displayed a remarkably high catalytic activity and an excellent stability in the hydrogenation of D-glucose. The observed good catalyst performance is attributed to the carbon microfiber morphology, unblocked mesoporous structure, and the hydrogen spillover effect induced by the unique surface contact between the Ru nanoparticles and the carbon. In addition, the incorporation of nitrogen significantly improved the catalytic performance due to the enhanced hydrogen adsorption, better wettability, and modified electronic properties of the Ru.     

Chain Orientation in Polyethylene Fibers Prepared by Ethylene Nanoextrusion Polymerization

Summary: Ethylene nanoextrusion polymerization has been demonstrated to be a novel nanofabrication concept for the preparation of polyethylene (PE) fibers directly from ethylene monomers without any post‐processing procedures. For PE fibers, chain orientation is a critical parameter that affects performance and application of the fibrous materials. In this communication, we report an investigation on chain orientation in PE fibrous samples prepared through nanoextrusion polymerization using a two‐dimensional wide angle X‐ray diffraction (2D WAXRD) technique. Two types of fibrous samples, including individual microfibers and microfiber aggregates, were sampled randomly and studied. For individual PE microfibers, anisotropic diffraction patterns were observed, suggesting chain orientation along the microfiber axial direction. Some microfibers showed the most desired diffraction pattern often found in high‐modulus high‐strength PE fibers. These samples possessed a very high degree of chain orientation along the fiber axis. Owing to a random aggregation of anisotropic microfibers, microfiber aggregates exhibited isotropic diffraction patterns. This work provided further experimental evidence for the proposed nanoextrusion polymerization concept.

2D WAXRD diffraction pattern of a PE microfiber.     

A PDMS sheath flow cuvette for high‐sensitivity LIF measurements in CE

A simple method for producing a sheath flow cuvette in PDMS suitable for post‐column detection in CE is described. Two types of cuvette were investigated. In the first, the sheath flow channel had a round cross‐section of approximately 635 μm diameter, whereas the second cuvette had a 300×300 μm² square channel. Both cuvettes produced laminar flows that ensheathed the separation capillary's effluent allowing sensitive fluorescence measurements. The elasticity of the PDMS allowed the 300×300 μm² square sheath flow channel to expand uniformly and accommodate the larger 330–340 μm od round separation capillary, producing a self‐aligning cuvette with robust mechanical properties. With this cuvette, linear calibrations of over five orders of magnitude and 15–30 zmol fluorescein detection limits were obtained for 12 and 50 μm id capillaries.     

Silk fibroin microfibers and chitosan modified poly (glycerol sebacate) composite scaffolds for skin tissue engineering

Porous mSF/PGS and CS/PGS composite scaffolds were prepared by the combination of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) with silk fibroin microfibers (mSF) and chitosan (CS) as modifiers through particulate leaching and freeze-drying techniques. Both mSF/PGS and CS/PGS scaffolds show highly interconnected and open porous structures, and the crosslink density and water absorption of PGS were obviously enhanced by the modifiers. Moreover, the silk fibroin microfiber and chitosan can slow down and control the degradation rate of PGS. The biocompatibility of these porous PGS based composite scaffolds for skin tissue engineering was evaluated by cell culture experiments, and the results indicate of the good attachment, proliferation and deep penetration of cells into these composite scaffolds.     

Highly conductive PEDOT/PSS microfibers fabricated by wet-spinning and dip-treatment in ethylene glycol

Highly conductive microfibers made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) were fabricated by wet-spinning and subsequent dip-treatment in ethylene glycol. The electrical conductivity of the PEDOT/PSS microfibers with a diameter of ca. 5 μm was significantly increased from 74 S cm⁻¹ to 467 S cm⁻¹ by the dip-treatment in 3 min. The result was explained by removal of insulating PSS from the surface of the PEDOT/PSS grains and crystallization of PEDOT, which led to the formation of large numbers of higher conductive grains that enhanced the transport of charge carriers in the microfiber. The mechanical properties of the microfibers were also improved by the dip-treatment where Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased from 3.2 GPa and 94 MPa to 4.0 GPa and 130 MPa, respectively.     

表面微图案化聚乳酸膜的制备及其细胞亲和性评价

利用溶剂-非溶剂法(SNS)制备表面具有微孔图案的聚乳酸(PLA)膜和聚苯乙烯(PS)膜,并以微孔PS膜为模板,构建表面具有微岛图案的PLA膜.以此为基础,对所制备的微图案表面对PLA膜亲/疏水性及成骨细胞粘附与增殖性能的影响进行研究.结果显示微图案的存在显著增强了PLA膜的表面疏水性(水接触角90°);成骨细胞在微图案表面具有良好的铺展性,其黏附数量明显高于光滑PLA膜,但细胞的生长曲线相对较平缓,显示微图案表面虽有利于细胞在PLA膜表面的粘附与铺展,但对促进细胞的增殖无贡献.     

Poly(l-lactic acid) nonwoven fabric prepared by carbon dioxide laser-thinning method

Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nonwoven fabric was obtained by using a carbon dioxide laser-thinning method. The obtained PLLA nonwoven fabric was made of endless microfibers with a uniform diameter without droplets. The fiber diameter can be varied by controlling an airflow rate supplied to the air jet, a supplying speed of an original fiber into a laser-irradiating point, and laser intensity. When the microfiber prepared by irradiating the laser operated at a laser intensity of 66 W cm⁻² to the original fiber supplied at S_s = 0.1 m min⁻¹ was dragged at an airflow rate of 30 L min⁻¹, the thinnest microfiber with an average diameter of 3.4 μm was obtained. The obtained microfiber had a degree of crystallinity of 45%, and the degree of crystal orientation of 84%. The existence of highly oriented crystallites suggests that a flow-induced crystallization occurred during the laser-thinning.     

Size‐Controlled Fabrication of Polydiacetylene‐Embedded Microfibers on a Microfluidic Chip

A microfluidic technique was employed to fabricate polydiacetylene (PDA)‐embedded hydrogel microfibers. By taking advantage of calcium ion‐induced insoluble hydrogel formation, supramolecularly assembled diacetylene (DA)‐surfactant complexes were successfully immobilized in the calcium alginate fibers. Thus, instantaneous microfiber formation was observed when the core flow of DA supramolecules‐containing alginate solution met the sheath flow of calcium ions. UV irradiation of the resulting fibers afforded blue colored PDAs, and the formation of a conjugated polymer was confirmed by heat‐induced phase transition and by Raman spectroscopy. By adjusting the core and sheath flow rates, PDA‐embedded hydrogel fibers of various sizes were obtained.     

Adhesion of biologically inspired vertical and angled polymer microfiber arrays

This paper proposes an approximate adhesion model for fibrillar adhesives for developing a fibrillar adhesive design methodology and compares numerical simulation adhesion results with macroscale adhesion data from polymer microfiber array experiments. A technique for fabricating microfibers with a controlled angle is described for the first time. Polyurethane microfibers with different hardnesses, angles, and aspect ratios are fabricated using optical lithography and polymer micromolding techniques and tested with a custom tensile adhesion measurement setup. Macroscale adhesion and overall work of adhesion of the microfiber arrays are measured and compared with the models to observe the effect of fiber geometry and preload. The adhesion strength and work of adhesion behavior of short and long vertical and long angled fiber arrays have similar trends with the numerical simulations. A scheme is also proposed to aid in optimized fiber adhesive design.     

3D Microfibrous Scaffolds Selectively Promotes Proliferation and Glial Differentiation of Adult Neural Stem Cells: A Platform to Tune Cellular Behavior in Neural Tissue Engineering

Biomaterials are essential for the development of innovative biomedical and therapeutic applications. Biomaterials‐based scaffolds can influence directed cell differentiation to improve cell‐based strategies. Using a novel microfluidics approach, poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), is used to fabricate microfibers with varying diameters (3–40 µm) and topographies (straight and wavy). Multipotent adult rat hippocampal stem/progenitor cells (AHPCs) are cultured on 3D aligned PCL microfibrous scaffolds to investigate their ability to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The results indicate that the PCL microfibers significantly enhance proliferation of the AHPCs compared to control, 2D planar substrates. While the AHPCs maintained their multipotent differentiation capacity when cultured on the PCL scaffolds, there is a significant and dramatic increase in immunolabeling for astrocyte and oligodendrocyte differentiation when compared with growth on planar surfaces. Our results show a 3.5‐fold increase in proliferation and 23.4‐fold increase in astrocyte differentiation for cells on microfibers. Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells within a PCL microfiber scaffold may provide important biological and topographic cues that facilitate the survival, selective differentiation, and integration of transplanted cells to improve therapeutic strategies.     

Fabrication of porous collagen/chitosan scaffolds with controlling microstructure for dermal equivalent

Two sets of homemade apparatus have been utilized to fabricate collagen/chitosan porous membranes by quenching its acetic solution and subsequently extracting the solvent with ethanol. The influence of chitosan concentration on the surface morphology of the collagen/chitosan membranes was studied using a quenching cold plate (apparatus 1). The pore size was enlarged along with an increase in the chitosan content, accompanied with the emergence of a sheet‐like microstructure. Due to the large thermal conductivity of the membrane‐forming platform (stainless steel), collagen/chitosan membranes prepared using apparatus 1 at freezing temperature between ?60 to ?20 °C present similar pore size (2–4 nm) and surface morphology. However, a large difference in pore size is generated using apparatus 2 (membrane preparation in a cold ethanol bath) and using a membrane‐forming platform of poor thermal conductivity (polymethylmethacrylate), e.g. ～10 to 20 μm at freezing temperature of ?60 to ?40 °C, and 265 μm at ?20 °C accompanied with the transformation from fiber‐ to sheet‐dominated morphology. The spongy collagen/chitosan membranes with pore sizes ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers and porosity higher than 95%, which could be used as dermal regeneration template, have thus been fabricated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi‐micro reversed‐phase liquid chromatography for the separation of alkyl benzenes and proteins exploiting methacrylate‐ and polystyrene‐based monolithic columns

Monolithic columns were synthesized inside 1.02 mm internal diameter fused‐silica lined stainless‐steel tubing. Styrene and butyl, hexyl, lauryl, and glycidyl methacrylates were the functional monomers. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and divinylbenzene were the crosslinkers. The glycidyl methacrylate polymer was modified with gold nanoparticles and dodecanethiol (C₁₂). The separation of alkylbenzenes was investigated by isocratic elution in 60:40 v/v acetonitrile/water. The columns based on polystyrene‐co‐divinylbenzene and poly(glycidyl methacrylate)‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate modified with dodecanethiol did not provide any separation of alkyl benzenes. The poly(hexyl methacrylate)‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and poly(lauryl methacrylate)‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate columns separated the alkyl benzenes with plate heights between 30 and 60 μm (50 μL min^?1 and 60°C). Similar efficiency was achieved in the poly(butyl methacrylate)‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate column, but only at 10 μL min^?1 (0.22 mm s^?1). Backpressures varied from 0.38 MPa in the hexyl methacrylate to 13.4 MPa in lauryl methacrylate columns (50 μL min^?1 and 60°C). Separation of proteins was achieved in all columns with different efficiencies. At 100 μL min^?1 and 60°C, the lauryl methacrylate columns provided the best separation, but their low permeability prevented high flow rates. Flow rates up to 500 μL min^?1 were possible in the styrene, butyl and hexyl methacrylate columns.     

A valveless switch for microparticle sorting with laminar flow streams and electrophoresis perpendicular to the direction of fluid stream

A simply designed valveless switch for microparticle sorting was fabricated on a glass chip. A successful sorting of 10 μm diameter polystyrene latex beads was performed by the microfluidic system consisted of a unique electrophoretic switch and pair of parallel laminar flow streams. In applying the voltage to the electrodes placed on the banks of the flow through channel, microparticles were electrophoretically diverted across the boundary between two distinct laminar flows.