Elastic moduli of electrospun mats: Importance of fiber curvature and specimen dimensions

Abstract

Success of tissue engineering relies on the architecture and properties of porous scaffolds. Electrospun nonwoven scaffolds in the form of mats are unique materials due to large surface area to volume ratio, high porosity, versatility in surface functionalities and excellent mechanical properties. Maneuvering the mechanical behavior of the electrospun mat is a major challenge both from theoretical and experimental perspectives. Herein, we report a two-dimensional (2D) analytical model of normalized elastic moduli of electrospun mats by formulating a relationship with the governing fiber and structural parameters. The analytical model of normalized mat modulus has also accounted for fiber curvature in the form of sinusoidal curve along with the specimen dimensions considered during the uniaxial tensile test. A comparison has been made between the magnitudes of normalized mat modulus obtained through predictive modeling and the experimental results adapted from the literature. In general, a good agreement has been found between the theoretical and the experimental results of normalized moduli of electrospun mats. An interplay of some of the governing parameters has been analyzed through parametric analysis. Through theoretical modeling, the normalized amplitude of fiber crimp via fiber diameter along with the aspect ratio of specimen dimensions are observed to be the dominant factors responsible for modulating the normalized mat modulus.

Keywords: Electrospun; Fiber curvature; Specimen dimension; Tissue.