Microfluidic Fabrication of Functional Microfibers with Controllable Internals

Summary

Microfibers show great potential in fabrication of 3D matrix for tissue engineering scaffolds, implantable therapeutic systems, medical patches, and energy storage systems. Fabrication of functional microfibers with controllable internals can be achieved by using coaxial three‐phase jets containing core flow and sheath flow from microfluidics as templates. The chapter first demonstrates the microfluidic strategy for fabrication of functional microfibers with controllable internals by fabricating core‐sheath poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) microfibers with tubular internals containing phase change materials for temperature regulation. It then demonstrates the versatility of microfluidic strategy for fabrication of functional microfibers with controllable internals by fabricating peapod‐like chitosan microfibers with multicompartment internals for synergistic encapsulation. The versatility of microfluidic strategy for fabrication of functional microfibers with controllable internals is also demonstrated by fabricating spider‐silk‐like calcium alginate (Ca‐alginate) chitosan microfibers with magnetic spindle‐knot internals for 3D assembly and water collection.