Electrospun nanofiber tubes with elastomagnetic properties for biomedical use

Electrospinning technique has been successfully used to produce composite nanofibers combining magnetic nanoparticles with polymer matrices. Process conditions to assembly nanofibers in tubular systems, as well as their morphological and elastomagnetic properties, have been explored. A volume percentage of magnetic charge close to 30% has been achieved. The optimization of the fabrication method ensures that the particles are completely covered by a thin polymer shell, so safe-guarding bio-compatibility. In particular, the deformation induced by the direct elastomagnetic effect, applying a static or a pulsed magnetic field, has been investigated. Resultant devices exhibit good elastomagnetic stretchability at room temperature-longitudinal relative strain/exciting field ~4·10-3/(1.5·104 A/m) -, thus suggesting their potential use for applications in biomedical field as magneto-active components, as well as sensors and actuators