Technology

Fibrous materials have widespread applications in medical devices, aerospace, civil engineering, textiles, and energy. New fibrous materials are composed of micro or nanofiber structures that are capable of extreme strength and flexibility properties as well as the ability to deliver drugs or cells for medical purposes. These fibers can be composed of polymers, composites and ceramics. The materials are typically built via a process called electrospinning in which a high voltage is applied to a liquid polymer droplet. The droplet is vaporized and traverses through air to a target membrane collector. As the droplet moves through the air, it is elongated by a whipping process that spins the resultant fiber. Electrospinning has been used for over a decade to create fiber materials; however, it is limited by slow commercial production rates, inadequate strength properties, and lacking mimicry of biological tissues.

To overcome these limitations, the inventors have developed a micro/nanofiber development process utilizing centrifugation to improve fibers with more desirable properties for biological and industrial applications. This technology details the development of a novel method of centrifugal spinning to create fibrous materials superior to electrospinning or other variations of centrifugal fiber production. The centrifuge consists of a central reservoir holding a solution of the desired polymer. The collector is on the inner wall of the centrifuge and during centrifugation, the polymer is expelled from the nozzles and deposited onto the collector creating the micro or nanofiber. This novel method continuously aligns fibers (woven fibers) leading to enhanced physical properties superior to non-aligned fibers. Moreover, horizontally placed tracks angled throughout enable the production of woven fibers.

Potential Application

Woven aligned fibers that can be used to produce wound dressings, nerve grafts, stem cell scaffolds, energy applications, textiles and biosensors with superior properties.

Opportunity

The market for micro and nanofibers exceeded $390 million in 2015 and expected to almost double to $600 million by 2024 at a CAGR of 25%. Recent advancements in technology and reduced cost of producing nanofibers have spurred development in the past several years. Polymeric fibers have exhibited the fastest growth due their application across various industries particularly in the medical, life sciences and

pharmaceutical markets. Although electrospinning is the current choice for production, several companies including Revolution Fibres, Donaldson, FibeRio, Sigma Aldrich and Nanopareil are investing significant resources to develop new techniques for micro and nanofiber development. North America dominates the micro and nanofiber market followed by Asia Pacific regions which are expected to exhibit the fastest growth through 2024.

Rowan University is looking for a partner for further development and commercialization of this technology through a license.