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Dual electric field induced alignment of electrospun nanofibers

Authors:
Acharya, M.
Arumugam, G. K.
Heiden, P. A.
Published by: Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
Date: 8 2008
Volume, Number, Pages: 293 8 666-674

Accession Number: ISI:000258874300003

Abstract:

A dual-field method is described to produce aligned fibers by electrospinning. By applying a secondary electric field perpendicular to the primary field, control over the orientation of the fibers on the collector is obtained. The dual-field approach is used in conjunction with dual electrodes and a rotating collector. Both approaches were used to electrospin poly(lactic acid) fibers under conditions intended to produce fibers with a diameter greater then 400 nm to aid observation by optical microscopy and digital photography. Digital photography was used to visualize a large area of aligned fiber and image analysis software was used to quantify the degree of alignment. Fibers aligned with the aid of a dual field showed better alignment than those from a single electric field under otherwise identical conditions.