Getting started: random fiber deposition with electrospinning

This article is a step-by-step quick guide for the simplest fiber deposition method. This guide assumes that you already have the proper precursor liquid (e.g. a polymer solution) prepared. We also assume that you are using Hydrodrive for this experiment to reduce dead volume.

Note: for notations like “F9” please refer overview of system components

Preparations

Please read carefully our start to work article before continue.

During the preparation phase, the precursor liquid is loaded into spincube, and both the emitter and collector are installed.

1. Turn on spincube with the F9 power on switch and turn on the required pump (typically the one placed on the right side) by toggling the switch F18.
2. Fill in a syringe of the desired size (1 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL) with the precursor liquid.
   • Create a tube assembly if needed
3. Assembly Hydrodrive with the syringe and connect the desired emmitter
4. Assemby the flat plate collector.

Tip: make sure you placed a pale hygroscopic material in the drip tray G5

Create project in Spinstudio from template

In this phase, a new project is created in Spinstudio using the Random Fiber Deposition template.

1. Start Spinstudio
2. From templates, select “Random fiber deposition”. When prompted, create or select a folder to store your project files. Otherwise spinstudio will use the folder previously created.
3. Rename and save the project
4. Select the “Settings” application and make sure that your spincube system is properly connected.
5. Select the spincube system and select spincube chamber from the modules listed
6. If you want to use the project default settings of spincube chamber, consent by clicking “Use previous settings”. Make sure that there are no warnings or errors related to the module (i.e. the module name is marked by green checkmark)
7. Select spincube power from the list, and apply the same settings as described in the previous section.
8. Enable remote mode
9. Select Hydrodrive from the list. Consent with previous settings, and select the size of the already installed precursor syringe.
10. Select “Camera” from the systems listing, and select “Camera” from the modules listing. Make sure that the camera module is also marked with green checkmark.
11. Before continue, make sure that all modules of spincube systems are marked with green checkmarks.

Start the experiment

In this section, spincube electrospinner is being controlled from spinstudio dashboard to generate random oriented nanofibers.

Note: Please refer using spincube power, using spincube chamber, using cubepump dashboard interfaces

1. Select Dashboard from the application list in spinstudio.The project template consists of an already prepared dashboard suited for random fiber deposition
   
2. Dispense 0.1 mL precursor with 0.1 mL/min flow rate with Hydrodrive while continuously inspecting the end of the emitter needle through the camera image. Once the first droplet appears, stop the pump.
3. Activate high voltage on spincube power
4. Increase the voltage slowly and gradually using the spincube power dashboard interface until the Taylor cone appears.
5. Once appeared, set the desired flow rate (start from several microliters per minute) on Hydrodrive and start the pump
6. Use the mouse wheel to adjust the voltage, or adjust the flow rate if needed.

Experiment analysis

• Please refer Display Online Data article to learn how to analyse sensor data during experimenting.

Finishing the experiment

1. Once the desired amount of nanofibers were produced, disable the high voltage. Wait at least 2 minutes before opening the chamber.
2. Release the collector with the product.
3. Make sure that the emitter and all tubings are released and cleaned properly
4. Make sure that the chamber internal surfaces are cleaned properly

To learn about post-experiment data analysis, please refer Getting Started with Historical Data