Nanofiber 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 an expanded nanofibrous structure, the method comprising exposing a nanofiber structure comprising electrospun fibers to gas bubbles, thereby expanding the nanofiber structure,
wherein said nanofiber structure comprises a plurality of nanofibers.
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 nanofiber structure in a liquid comprising the reagents for said chemical reaction.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure comprises a plurality of uniaxially-aligned nanofibers, random nanofibers, and/or entangled nanofibers.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing said nanofiber structure comprising a plurality of nanofibers prior to said exposure to bubbles.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure comprises biodegradable fibers.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanofibers comprise hydrophobic polymers.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said hydrophobic polymer is poly(caprolactone).
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises washing the produced nanofibrous structure and removing gas bubbles trapped within said nanofibrous structure.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises lyophilizing the produced nanofibrous structure.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing of the nanofiber structure comprising electrospun fibers to gas bubbles increases the thickness of said nanofiber structure.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure consists of a plurality of nanofibers, and wherein said nanofibers consist of a polymer.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said polymer is a hydrophobic polymer.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure is a nanofiber mat prior to said exposure to gas bubbles.