Three dimensional printing modality combining fused deposition modeling and electrospinning

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for fabricating a branching structure, the apparatus comprising: a flexible, electrically conductive internal electrical field collector comprising a first collector end, a second collector end, a collector outer surface located between both collector ends, a collector longitudinal axis extending through the first collector end and the second collector end, and at least one articulating feature positioned between the first collector end and the second collector end, a compression and rotation mechanism in contact with the first collector end, and a continuously formed mandrel that can include branches, having a first mandrel circumference with a mandrel inner circumference larger than the collector outer circumference and positionable over the internal electrical field collector and a second mandrel located at sufficient distance outside the first mandrel to facilitate attraction of electruspun fibers. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the branching structure, and grafts thereof.