Microfiber structures and methods of synthesis and use thereof
View Patent ↗Three dimensional nanofiber structures are provided and methods of production thereof.
1. A method for producing a microfibrous structure with increased porosity and thickness, the method comprising exposing a microfiber structure to gas bubbles, thereby increasing the porosity and thickness of the microfiber structure,
wherein said microfiber structure comprises a plurality of microfibers, and
wherein said microfiber structure comprises electrospun microfibers.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gas bubbles are generated as a product of a chemical reaction.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said chemical reaction is the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said exposure comprises immersing said microfiber structure in a liquid comprising the reagents for said chemical reaction.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfiber structure comprises a plurality of uniaxially-aligned microfibers, random microfibers, and/or entangled microfibers.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing said microfiber structure comprising a plurality of microfibers prior to said exposure to bubbles.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfibers comprise hydrophobic polymers.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said hydrophobic polymer is poly(caprolactone).
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises washing the produced microfibrous structure and removing gas bubbles trapped within said microfibrous structure.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises lyophilizing the produced microfibrous structure.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfiber structure comprises biodegradable fibers.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfiber structure consists of a plurality of microfibers, and wherein said microfibers consist of a polymer.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said polymer is a hydrophobic polymer.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfiber structure is a microfiber mat prior to said exposure to gas bubbles.