Pyroelectrohydrodynamic spinning for micro- and nanopatterning

TLDR: The novel concept proposed, based on the activation of the pyroelectrodynamic effect, offers the ability of working on fluidic multiphase materials for processing biomaterials (biocompatible and biodegradable) in order to fabricate scaffold for tissue engineering application and high-viscous polymers for the fabrication of 3D microobjects, avoiding the typical chaotic spiraling effect usually occurring in conventional electrospinning systems.

Abstract: The possibility of shaping the soft matter into complex patterned structures is becoming very important in the realm of nanotechnology. Microelectronic components, flexible electronic circuits, optical waveguides, microlenses, 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering, biomaterials, and biosensors are just a few examples of possible applications of high-resolution patterns. Many different approaches have been developed and tested for materials manipulation and microfabrication purposes. Very recently, the ink-jet printing approach has opened new frontiers for noncontact printing and high-resolution dispensing. The advantages of the ink-jet printing approach also have been expanded by the invention of 3D printers actually used to synthesize a three-dimensional object through the new concept of additive manufacturing process. The work and the experiments reported in this chapter are related to the description of an unconventional approach developed for the manipulation of liquid and polymeric materials. The novel concept proposed, based on the activation of the pyroelectrodynamic effect, offers the ability of working on fluidic multiphase materials for processing biomaterials (biocompatible and biodegradable) in order to fabricate scaffold for tissue engineering application and high-viscous polymers for the fabrication of 3D microobjects, avoiding the typical chaotic spiraling effect usually occurring in conventional electrospinning systems.