Tissue engineering applications commonly encompass the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to provide a suitable microenvironment for the incorporation of cells or growth factors to regenerate ...

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Three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering applications : role of porosity and pore size

Design, and Applications Shutao Wang,†,‡ Kesong Liu, Xi Yao, and Lei Jiang*,†,‡,§ †Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interface Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, and ‡Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, BeiHang University, Beijing 100191, People’s Republic of China Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong P6903, People’s Republic of China

Bioinspired Surfaces with Superwettability: New Insight on Theory, Design, and Applications

A comprehensive review summarizing the effect of electrospinning parameters and potential applications of nanofibers in biomedical and biotechnology

Multifunctional capability, flexible design, rugged lightweight construction and self-powered operation are desired attributes for electronics that directly interface with the human body or with advanced robotic systems. For these applications, piezoelectric materials, in forms that offer the ability to bend and stretch, are attractive for pressure/force sensors and mechanical energy harvesters. Here, we introduce a large area, flexible piezoelectric material that consists of sheets of electrospun fibres of the polymer poly[(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene]. The flow and mechanical conditions associated with the spinning process yield free-standing, three-dimensional architectures of aligned arrangements of such fibres, in which the polymer chains adopt strongly preferential orientations. The resulting material offers exceptional piezoelectric characteristics, to enable ultra-high sensitivity for measuring pressure, even at exceptionally small values (0.1 Pa). Quantitative analysis provides detailed insights into the pressure sensing mechanisms, and establishes engineering design rules. Potential applications range from self-powered micro-mechanical elements, to self-balancing robots and sensitive impact detectors.

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High performance piezoelectric devices based on aligned arrays of nanofibers of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene)

This review comprises a detailed survey of ongoing methodologies for soft actuators, highlighting approaches suitable for nanometer- to centimeter-scale robotic applications. Soft robots present a special design challenge in that their actuation and sensing mechanisms are often highly integrated with the robot body and overall functionality. When less than a centimeter, they belong to an even more special subcategory of robots or devices, in that they often lack on-board power, sensing, computation, and control. Soft, active materials are particularly well suited for this task, with a wide range of stimulants and a number of impressive examples, demonstrating large deformations, high motion complexities, and varied multifunctionality. Recent research includes both the development of new materials and composites, as well as novel implementations leveraging the unique properties of soft materials.

Soft Actuators for Small-Scale Robotics.

Magnetic liquid marbles exhibit a remarkable ability to be opened and closed reversibly under the action of a magnetic field. Liquid can be either extracted from or added to the opened liquid marble simply with a capillary needle. Two opened liquid marbles can also be coalesced into a larger one. The magnetic liquid marbles can be maneuvered two- and three-dimensionally.

Magnetic liquid marbles: manipulation of liquid droplets using highly hydrophobic Fe3O4 nanoparticles.

https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30017197/lin-onestep-2008.pdf

One-step coating of fluoro-containing silica nanoparticles for universal generation of surface superhydrophobicity

Polymeric nanofiber non-woven materials produced by electrospinning have extremely high surface-to-mass (or volume) ratio and a porous structure with excellent pore-interconnectivity. These characteristics plus the functionalities and surface chemistry of the polymer itself impart the nanofibers with desirable properties for a range of advanced applications. This review summarizes the recent progress in electrospun nanofibers, with an emphasis on their applications.

Applications of electrospun nanofibers

Randomly oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibre membranes were directly used as active layers to make mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion devices. Without any extra poling treatment, the device can generate voltage outputs as high as several volts upon receiving a mechanical impact. The device also showed long-term working stability and the ability to drive electronic devices.

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Electrical power generator from randomly oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibre membranes

Considerable interest has been devoted to converting mechanical energy into electricity using polymer nanofibres. In particular, piezoelectric nanofibres produced by electrospinning have shown remarkable mechanical energy-to-electricity conversion ability. However, there is little data for the acoustic-to-electric conversion of electrospun nanofibres. Here we show that electrospun piezoelectric nanofibre webs have a strong acoustic-to-electric conversion ability. Using poly(vinylidene fluoride) as a model polymer and a sensor device that transfers sound directly to the nanofibre layer, we show that the sensor devices can detect low-frequency sound with a sensitivity as high as 266 mV Pa(-1). They can precisely distinguish sound waves in low to middle frequency region. These features make them especially suitable for noise detection. Our nanofibre device has more than five times higher sensitivity than a commercial piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) film device. Electrospun piezoelectric nanofibres may be useful for developing high-performance acoustic sensors.

/pdf/high-sensitivity-acoustic-sensors-from-nanofibre-webs-24ycvskdp4.pdf

Jian Fang

Papers

Magnetic liquid marbles: manipulation of liquid droplets using highly hydrophobic Fe3O4 nanoparticles.

One-step coating of fluoro-containing silica nanoparticles for universal generation of surface superhydrophobicity

Applications of electrospun nanofibers

Electrical power generator from randomly oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibre membranes

High-sensitivity acoustic sensors from nanofibre webs.