Washington University

Zack Ray

Younan Xia

Matthew MacEwan

Jingwei Xie

Matthew R Macewan

A structure of aligned (e.g., radially and/or polygonally aligned) fibers, and systems and methods for producing and using the same. One or more structures provided may be created using an apparatus that includes one or more first electrodes that define an area and/or partially circumscribe an area. For example, a single first electrode may enclose the area, or a plurality of first electrode(s) may be positioned on at least a portion of the perimeter of the area. A second electrode is positioned within the area. Electrodes with rounded (e.g., convex) surfaces may be arranged in an array, and a fibrous structure created using such electrodes may include an array of wells at positions corresponding to the positions of the electrodes.

Biomedical patches with aligned fibers

A multi-laminar electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers, and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is combined with the first layer. A first portion of the scaffold includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the scaffold, and the first portion has a higher tensile strength than the second portion. The scaffold is configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect, and is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of the scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and to enable movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate.

A three-dimensional electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a flexible deposited fiber network of varying density including a first and second set of set of electrospun fibers. The second set of electrospun fibers is coupled to the first. A first portion of the flexible deposited fiber network includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the flexible deposited fiber network, and the tensile strength of first portion is higher than that of the second portion. The scaffold is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and enables movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate. The first and second set of fibers are configured to degrade within three months after application, and each fiber of the deposited fiber network has a diameter of 1-1000 nanometers.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Zack Ray