Multifunctional Polymer Nanoparticles and Fibers By Electrohydrodynamic Co-Jetting

Precise control of the architecture of biodegradable materials is required for many biomedical applications, including controlled drug delivery, regenerative medicine, or simultaneous imaging and diagnosis applications. In particular, the complementary control of internal (bulk) and external (surface) features has been increasingly recognized as important design parameters for multifunctional materials. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co-jetting, an adaptive manufacturing process that involves transferring two or more capillary needles in a side-by-side configuration, can be used to create a wide range of multicompartmental particles and fibers with micron-to-nanometer features. This architecture can enable controlled release of multiple drugs, autonomous microactuation, or the manufacturing of fiber scaffolds with unprecedented architectural control.