A novel XYZ electrospinning that orients the trajectory and collimates the electrified fluid jet of polymer nanofibers by induced electric fields.

Electrospinning is a process in which high voltage creates nanostructured fibers with random orientation from a polymer solution. A novel electrospinning instrument was designed and constructed, capable of orienting and collimating the trajectory of the electrified fluid jet. The equipment collimates and adjusts the electrified fluid jet in the X-Y directions using deflector plates connected to a variable electric field. Simultaneously, different membrane thicknesses can be selected, i.e., in the Z direction. Additionally, by programming the sinusoidal function generator to perform an X-Y sweep, Lissajous figures (LF) were obtained. SEM images obtained through XYZ electrospinning of PVC and PVDF membranes were used to determine the control achieved over the orientation distribution of the processed nanofibers and the modification of their diameter, with and without applying the electric field to the deflector plates. The nanofibers obtained from the polymeric membranes, which originated after the straight segment of the Taylor cone, did not exhibit a random trajectory and position. Instead, the collimated electrified fluid jet deposited them in a cross pattern (X-Y) on the collector-cathode plate.

Developing an Ear Prosthesis Fabricated in Polyvinylidene Fluoride by a 3D Printer with Sensory Intrinsic Properties of Pressure and Temperature.

An ear prosthesis was designed in 3D computer graphics software and fabricated using a 3D printing process of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for use as a hearing aid. In addition, the prosthesis response to pressure and temperature was observed. Pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties of this ear prosthesis were investigated using an astable multivibrator circuit, as changes in PVDF permittivity were observed according to variations of pressure and temperature. The results show that this prosthesis is reliable for use under different conditions of pressure (0 Pa to 16,350 Pa) and temperature (2 °C to 90 °C). The experimental results show an almost linear and inversely proportional behavior between the stimuli of pressure and temperature with the frequency response. This 3D-printed ear prosthesis is a promising tool and has a great potentiality in the biomedical engineering field because of its ability to generate an electrical potential proportional to pressure and temperature, and it is the first time that such a device has been processed by the additive manufacturing process (3D printing). More work needs to be carried out to improve the performance, such as electrical stimulation of the nervous system, thereby extending the purpose of a prosthesis to the area of sensory perception.