Designing an Integrated Low-cost Electrospinning Device for Nanofibrous Scaffold Fabrication

Abstract

Electrospinning is a cost-effective technique for synthesizing polymeric fibers with nanometers diameters. Electrospun nanofibers act as ideal scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems because they can mimic the functions of native extracellular matrices. However, it is difficult to gathering nanofibers with simple design and reasonable price device. This study presents a cost effective and safe electrospinning system with similar capabilities to standard electrospinning device. As standard current electrospinning system consists of three constructed parts, a hand-constructed electrical power supply to provide a voltage source direct current (DC), a low cost three-dimensional (3D) printed syringe pump and handmade collectors. The device components are entirely constructed off-the-shelf components, and structural elements are 3D printer. The electrospinning process was carried out using PLA materials. The general parameters in the production process are resolution of the spraying rate μL/min and the power supply provides electricity in kilovolt. The prototype is an affordable device; its cost is around 99.5% less than the laboratory commercial devices. The average diameters of the fibers were determined from SEM micrographs with the aid of Image J software, which shows that the electrospinning device successfully produces fibres on a nanometer scale. Henceforth, this project can help educational institutions to have such electrospinning system with ultra-low cost comparing with readymade systems in the market.

Keywords

• Electrospinning
• High voltage power supply
• Syringe pump
• Infusion pump
• Nanofibers