Abstract: A substrate for culturing cells that includes at least one fiber scaffold adapted to be contained within a disposable or non-disposable bioreactor, wherein the fiber scaffold further includes polymer fibers that have been created by electrospinning, and wherein the orientation of the fibers in the scaffold relative to one another is generally parallel, random, or both.

Abstract: An embolization device may include a fiber section having a plurality of polymeric electrospun fibers and, optionally, a contrast agent. An embolization device may further include a plurality of fiber sections, wherein each fiber section is separated by a linker. A method of deploying such an embolization device may include inserting the embolization device into a vessel. The method may further include applying an electrical current to one or more of the linkers, applying electrothermal heat to at least a portion of the device, or applying force to at least a portion of a delivery vehicle for the device. A method of manufacturing the device may include electrospinning a fiber section, and processing the fiber section by straining, twisting, heating, or shaping it.

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to methods of treating articular or hyaline cartilage damage or injury using biocompatible electrospun polymer fibers. Methods are also directed to treating arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, using biocompatible electrospun polymer fibers. Such methods may involve placing a patch comprising at least one electrospun polymer fiber in physical communication with the damaged cartilage. In certain embodiments, the patch may comprise substantially parallel electrospun polymer fibers.

Abstract: The development and construction of implantable artificial organs, and a process for manufacturing three-dimensional polymer microscale and nanoscale structures for use as scaffolds in the growth of biological structures such as hollow organs, luminal structures, or other structures within the body are disclosed.

Abstract: The development and construction of implantable artificial organs, and a process for manufacturing three-dimensional polymer microscale and nanoscale structures for use as scaffolds in the growth of biological structures such as hollow organs, luminal structures, or other structures within the body are disclosed.

Abstract: The development and construction of implantable artificial organs, and a process for manufacturing three-dimensional polymer microscale and nanoscale structures for use as scaffolds in the growth of biological structures such as hollow organs, luminal structures, or other structures within the body are disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber may comprise an electrospun polymer and a pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical may be dispersed within the electrospun polymer, and may have the form of a crystal, an oil, or a combination thereof. A method of making an electrospun fiber may comprise configuring a receiving surface to receive a polymer fiber, applying a charge to one or more of the receiving surface, a polymer injection system, and a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system, and depositing a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system onto the receiving surface. The polymer solution may comprise a polymer and a pharmaceutical. A method of treating a disorder in a subject may comprise obtaining such a fiber having an effective amount of a pharmaceutical, applying the fiber to an oral region of the subject, and allowing the fiber to disintegrate, thereby delivering the effective amount of the pharmaceutical to the subject.

Abstract: A composition may comprise a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. Such a composition may further include a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragment clusters. A kit may comprise a first component of a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. A method of treatment may comprise injecting into a portion of a body a composition which may comprise a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. The treatment may be directed to one or more of joint inflammation, osteoarthritis, a tissue injury, a muscle tear, a ligament tear, a tendon tear, a void, incontinence, an aneurysm, and a tumor.

Abstract: The invention provides devices for supporting regeneration of body tissue and of tubular structures, such as the esophagus or intestine, and methods for making and for using the devices.

Abstract: A method for generating a electro spun fiber medical implant including determining dimensions of a portion of anatomy of a patient corresponding to the electro spun fiber medical implant via medical imaging, generating a model of the portion of the anatomy based on the dimensions, the model including one or more solid areas and one or more void areas encompassed within the one or more solid areas, inverting the model to generate a mandrel model, the mandrel model generated based on the one or more void areas, generating the mandrel based on the mandrel model, the mandrel including at least one electrically conductive material therein, and applying an electro-spinning process to the mandrel to generate the electro spun fiber medical implant which circumscribes the mandrel, wherein the mandrel is removable from within the electro spun fiber medical implant after a disassembly process.

Abstract: A mandrel for forming a mold may comprise a rod having an outer surface, and a spiral component disposed around the outer surface of the rod, wherein the mandrel may be configured to receive an electrospun fiber. A method of making a kink-resistant electrospun fiber mold may comprise configuring such a mandrel to receive an electrospun fiber, applying a charge to one or more of the rod, the spiral component, and a polymer injection system, and depositing a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system onto the mandrel. A mold formed from such a method may comprise an inner wall extending axially, and an outer wall adjacent to the inner wall, having a plurality of axially adjacent, outwardly extending peaks separated by a plurality of valleys.

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to methods of improving bone-soft tissue healing using biocompatible electrospun polymer fibers. In one embodiment, a method may include locating a portion of a subject's bone, affixing a tendon or ligament to the bone using a hardware fixture, and placing a patch comprising at least one electrospun polymer fiber in physical communication with both the bone and the tendon or ligament. In some embodiments, the bone may be a humerus, and the tendon or ligament may be a supraspinatus tendon. In certain embodiments, the patch may comprise substantially parallel electrospun polymer fibers, and may be placed such that the fibers are also substantially parallel with the long axis of the tendon or ligament.

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to medical devices having a lattice framework. The lattice framework may comprise a plurality of interconnected polymeric electrospun fiber members, or may comprise one or more wires formed into a plurality of interconnected members. The lattice framework may be substantially tubular, or may have a bowtie or cone configuration. The medical devices described herein may find particular uses as stents, flow diverters, and occlusive devices. The instant disclosure is also directed to methods of making such medical devices, using electrospinning and processing techniques.

Abstract: A composition comprising a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments comprising at least one polymer, a plurality of electrospun fiber fragment clusters comprising at least one polymer, and, optionally, a carrier medium, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit comprising a first component of a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments, a carrier medium, and, optionally, a plurality of cells. Also disclosed is a biocompatible textile comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments. Also disclosed is a biocompatible suture comprising at least one electrospun fiber.

Abstract: A fiber may comprise an electrospun polymer and a contrast agent. A method of making an electrospun fiber may comprise configuring a receiving surface to receive a polymer fiber, applying a charge to one or more of the receiving surface, a polymer injection system, and a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system, and depositing a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system onto the receiving surface. The polymer solution may comprise a polymer and a contrast agent.

Abstract: An embolization device may include a fiber section having a plurality of polymeric electrospun fibers and, optionally, a contrast agent. An embolization device may further include a plurality of fiber sections, wherein each fiber section is separated by a linker. A method of deploying such an embolization device may include inserting the embolization device into a vessel. The method may further include applying an electrical current to one or more of the linkers, applying electrothermal heat to at least a portion of the device, or applying force to at least a portion of a delivery vehicle for the device. A method of manufacturing the device may include electrospinning a fiber section, and processing the fiber section by straining, twisting, heating, or shaping it.

Abstract: The development and construction of implantable artificial organs, and a process for manufacturing three-dimensional polymer microscale and nanoscale structures for use as scaffolds in the growth of biological structures such as hollow organs, luminal structures, or other structures within the body are disclosed.

Abstract: A composition may comprise a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. Such a composition may further include a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragment clusters. A kit may comprise a first component of a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. A method of treatment may comprise injecting into a portion of a body a composition which may comprise a plurality of polymeric electrospun fiber fragments, and a carrier medium comprising an effective amount of chitosan. The treatment may be directed to one or more of joint inflammation, osteoarthritis, a tissue injury, a muscle tear, a ligament tear, a tendon tear, a void, incontinence, an aneurysm, and a tumor.

Abstract: A scaffold may comprise a first polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a first material having a first degradation rate, and a second polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a second material having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate. The first degradation rate may substantially correspond to a cell infiltration rate, and the second degradation rate may be slower than the first degradation rate. Such a scaffold may be manufactured by electrospinning a first polymer fiber having a first degradation rate by ejecting a first polymer solution from a first polymer injection system onto a mandrel, and electrospinning a second polymer fiber having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate by ejecting a second polymer solution from a second polymer injection system onto a mandrel. Wound healing may be improved by applying such a scaffold to a portion of a wound.

Abstract: A substrate for culturing cells that includes at least one fiber scaffold adapted to be contained within a disposable or non-disposable bioreactor, wherein the fiber scaffold further includes polymer fibers that have been created by electrospinning, and wherein the orientation of the fibers in the scaffold relative to one another is generally parallel, random, or both.