Microscale Rockets and Picoliter Containers Engineered from Electrospun Polymeric Microtubes

Amit Sitt*, Jana Soukupova, David Miller, David Verdi, Radek Zboril, Henry Hess, Joerg Lahann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fabrication of biocompatible and biodegradable hollow microcylinders is reported. The hollow microcylinders, made of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene oxide (PEO), are obtained by coelectrospinning, followed by a cryosectioning step to prepare microtubes with defined aspect ratios. The obtained microtubes maintain their coaxial compartmentalization, which allows for selective chemical modification of the luminal walls either via chemical reactions or via physical adsorption of proteins. The control over the inner surface chemistry allows for binding of different markers specifi cally to the cavity walls using a variety of chemical reactions, and to adsorb enzymes and metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), which can support catalytic reactions inside the cavity. Coupling electrospun fibers with MNPs holds high promise for different applications including antimicrobial agents, charge collection media, and catalysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1432-1439
Number of pages8
JournalSmall
Volume12
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Fulbright scholarship
Defense Threat Reduction AgencyHDTRA 1-12-1-0037, HDTRA 1-12-1-0039
United States - India Educational FoundationLO1305
Technology Agency of the Czech RepublicTE02000006
Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a TělovýchovyCZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0056

    Keywords

    • biodegradable polymers
    • catalytic micromotors
    • electrospinning
    • microcontainers
    • microtubes

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