University of Illinois

Aaron P Esser-Kahn

Jeffrey S Moore

Scott R White

Nancy R Sottos

Hefei Dong

Piyush R Thakre

Jason F Patrick

A microvascular system includes a solid polymeric matrix and a woven structure in the matrix. The woven structure includes a plurality of fibers, and a plurality of microfluidic channels, where at least a portion of the microfluidic channels are interconnected. The microvascular system may be made by forming a composite that includes a solid polymeric matrix and a plurality of sacrificial fibers in the matrix, heating the composite to a temperature of from 100 to 250&#xb0; C., maintaining the composite at a temperature of from 100 to 250&#xb0; C. for a time sufficient to form degradants from the sacrificial fibers, and removing the degradants from the composite. The sacrificial fibers may include a polymeric fiber matrix including a poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and a metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali earth metal and a transition metal, in the fiber matrix, where the concentration of the metal in the fiber matrix is at least 0.1 wt %.

Thermally degradable polymeric fibers

A thermally degradable polymeric fiber comprising a polymeric fiber matrix including a poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and a metal in the form of a compound selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal oxide, a tin salt of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, and scandium triflate (Sc(0Tf)), where the concentration of the metal in the fiber matrix is at least 0.1 wt %.

Growing community of inventors

Champaign, IL, United States of America

Aaron P Esser-Kahn