TY - JOUR

T1 - Laser processing of electrospun PCL fiber mats for tissue engineering

AU - Zernetsch, Holger

AU - Kern, Alexander

AU - Jäschke, Peter

AU - Glasmacher, Birgit

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) for the Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH (EXC62/1).

PY - 2015/11

Y1 - 2015/11

N2 - Purpose: Processing technologies for cutting and joining electrospun fiber mats are required to produce complex three-dimensional (3D) structures, like a scaffold for heart valve tissue engineering. The ability to bond very thin porous sheets, thus forming a stable 3D geometry, offers completely new design strategies such as organ-shaped scaffolds with void chambers inside. In this study, solvent, glue and laser bonding are compared with regard to their retention force and practicability. Methods: For this purpose, samples were prepared by applying each bonding technique. In addition, two different ways of preparing the bonding site were investigated: a portion of mats were bonded by an L-joint and the others by a T-joint; then tensile testing was performed until tearing of the bonding occurred. Additionally, the edges of laser cut fiber mats were investigated in order to evaluate the influence of thermal effects of the laser beam and ongoing changes in pore structure. Results: It was found that laser cut fiber mats were slightly deformed due to thermal effects, but still had an open, porous structure at the site of the cut. Results also show that joining of fiber mats by laser led to the best bonding result with highest retention force. Application of solvent and glue led to a nonuniform and noncontiguous bonding with lower retention forces. Conclusions: A first proof of concept for a heart valve-shaped scaffold was created by laser bonding. Thus, the laser is an advantageous tool for post-processing fiber mats and produce complex 3D structures for different applications.

AB - Purpose: Processing technologies for cutting and joining electrospun fiber mats are required to produce complex three-dimensional (3D) structures, like a scaffold for heart valve tissue engineering. The ability to bond very thin porous sheets, thus forming a stable 3D geometry, offers completely new design strategies such as organ-shaped scaffolds with void chambers inside. In this study, solvent, glue and laser bonding are compared with regard to their retention force and practicability. Methods: For this purpose, samples were prepared by applying each bonding technique. In addition, two different ways of preparing the bonding site were investigated: a portion of mats were bonded by an L-joint and the others by a T-joint; then tensile testing was performed until tearing of the bonding occurred. Additionally, the edges of laser cut fiber mats were investigated in order to evaluate the influence of thermal effects of the laser beam and ongoing changes in pore structure. Results: It was found that laser cut fiber mats were slightly deformed due to thermal effects, but still had an open, porous structure at the site of the cut. Results also show that joining of fiber mats by laser led to the best bonding result with highest retention force. Application of solvent and glue led to a nonuniform and noncontiguous bonding with lower retention forces. Conclusions: A first proof of concept for a heart valve-shaped scaffold was created by laser bonding. Thus, the laser is an advantageous tool for post-processing fiber mats and produce complex 3D structures for different applications.

KW - Biohybrid structures

KW - Bonding

KW - Cutting

KW - Electrospinning

KW - Polymer welding retention force

KW - Tensile testing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973447818&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5301/ijao.5000455

DO - 10.5301/ijao.5000455

M3 - Article

C2 - 26728788

AN - SCOPUS:84973447818

VL - 38

SP - 607

EP - 614

JO - International Journal of Artificial Organs

JF - International Journal of Artificial Organs

SN - 0391-3988

IS - 11

ER -