Chapter 10
Low-Voltage Continuous Electrospinning: A Versatile
Protocol for Patterning Nano- and Micro-Scaled Fibers
for Cell Interface
Zhaoying Li, Xia Li, and Yan Yan Shery Huang
Abstract
Nano- and micro-scaled fibers have been incorporated in a number of applications in biofabrication and
tissue cultures, providing a cell interfacing structure with extracellular matrix-mimicking topography and
adhesion sites, and further supporting localized drug release. Here, we describe the low-voltage electrospinning patterning (LEP) protocol, which allows direct and continuous patterning of sub-micron fibers in
a controlled fashion. The processable polymers range from protein (e.g., gelatin) to thermoplastic (e.g.,
polystyrene) polymers, with flexible selections of collecting substrates. The operation voltage for fiber
fabrication can be as low as 50 V, which brings the benefits of reducing costs and mild-processing.
Key words Protein patterning, Electrospinning, Direct writing, Nanofiber, Biofabrication, Polymer,
Extracellular matrix, Topography, Live cell imaging, Tissue engineering
1 Introduction
One of the main aims of biofabrication is to recreate certain physiological aspects of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Electrospinning
is a robust technique for fabricating nano- to microfibers from a
wide range of polymer solutions, including both natural and synthetic polymers. The dimensions of these fibers are comparable to
the ECM fibril component [1, 2]. Hence electrospun fibers have
been used in cell cultures to facilitate structural support and guide
cell fate [3–5]. However, there are a few limitations to the conventional electrospinning technique, including high voltage requirement, patterning controllability, and limited protein loading. The
high voltage requirement restricts the processability of voltagesensitive materials [6]. The low patterning controllability is caused
by bending instability during the electrospinning process [7]. Modifications to the experimental configuration are required to improve
this. In this protocol, a method to achieve controllable patterning
Alberto Rainer and Lorenzo Moroni (eds.), Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2147, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0611-7_10,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
125
Low-Voltage Continuous Electrospinning: A Versatile
Protocol for Patterning Nano- and Micro-Scaled Fibers
for Cell Interface
Zhaoying Li, Xia Li, and Yan Yan Shery Huang
Abstract
Nano- and micro-scaled fibers have been incorporated in a number of applications in biofabrication and
tissue cultures, providing a cell interfacing structure with extracellular matrix-mimicking topography and
adhesion sites, and further supporting localized drug release. Here, we describe the low-voltage electrospinning patterning (LEP) protocol, which allows direct and continuous patterning of sub-micron fibers in
a controlled fashion. The processable polymers range from protein (e.g., gelatin) to thermoplastic (e.g.,
polystyrene) polymers, with flexible selections of collecting substrates. The operation voltage for fiber
fabrication can be as low as 50 V, which brings the benefits of reducing costs and mild-processing.
Key words Protein patterning, Electrospinning, Direct writing, Nanofiber, Biofabrication, Polymer,
Extracellular matrix, Topography, Live cell imaging, Tissue engineering
1 Introduction
One of the main aims of biofabrication is to recreate certain physiological aspects of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Electrospinning
is a robust technique for fabricating nano- to microfibers from a
wide range of polymer solutions, including both natural and synthetic polymers. The dimensions of these fibers are comparable to
the ECM fibril component [1, 2]. Hence electrospun fibers have
been used in cell cultures to facilitate structural support and guide
cell fate [3–5]. However, there are a few limitations to the conventional electrospinning technique, including high voltage requirement, patterning controllability, and limited protein loading. The
high voltage requirement restricts the processability of voltagesensitive materials [6]. The low patterning controllability is caused
by bending instability during the electrospinning process [7]. Modifications to the experimental configuration are required to improve
this. In this protocol, a method to achieve controllable patterning
Alberto Rainer and Lorenzo Moroni (eds.), Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2147, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0611-7_10,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
125