TEHRAN - An Iranian knowledge-based company has developed a dual-pump electrospinning device that produces nanofibers for pharmaceutical, medical and biomedical research.
Nanofibers have a wide range of applications due to their small diameter, high surface-area-to-volume ratio and adjustable structural and chemical properties. They are used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, filtration and advanced materials.
Electrospinning is a method for producing nanofibers. It uses a high-voltage electric field to form fine fibers from a polymer solution or melt. The fibers are then collected to create a nanofibrous structure. By adjusting process parameters and combining different materials, researchers can produce fibers tailored to specific applications.
The device, called “Electroris,” is designed to produce polymeric, carbon and ceramic nanofibers. Their diameters range from 50 nanometers to several micrometers. The device is available in two models: a standard single-pump version and a dual-pump, or “side-by-side,” version.
In the dual-pump model, two syringe-pump systems are positioned on either side of the collection drum. The device also features two scanning systems, two distance-adjustment systems and two high-voltage power supplies. This configuration allows two different materials to be electrospun simultaneously.
The system can process one polymeric material on one side and another material on the opposite side. The second material may include a pharmaceutical compound or a selected additive. This enables the production of composite nanofibers containing different components.
The resulting materials can support research into drug-delivery systems, medical materials and biological applications.
The device features a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a touch-screen panel. These allow users to adjust and monitor key process parameters. They include the solution injection rate, electrospinning distance, nozzle movement range, collector rotation speed, operating temperature and process duration.
The syringe pump’s injection rate ranges from 10 microliters per hour to 500 milliliters per hour. The nozzle scanning speed can be adjusted from zero to 30 millimeters per second. Its scanning range extends from zero to 30 centimeters.
The standard collector is a rotating stainless-steel drum. Other options, including wire, cylindrical, mandrel and disk collectors, are available on request. The drum rotates at speeds ranging from 350 to 3,000 revolutions per minute. The electrospinning distance can be set between five and 20 centimeters.