In situ curing system for electrospun silicone elastomers in hydrophobic coatings

Abstract

The application of porous, hydrophobic surface coatings made of electrospun silicone has the potential to demonstrate cell-repellent behavior on cochlear implant electrode arrays. This property could contribute to a reduction in the growth of fibrotic capsules. Nevertheless, the electrospinning of silicone elastomers presents certain challenges. In order to maintain a fibrous structure, the liquid elastomer base must undergo rapid curing during the process. In this study, we propose a novel in situ curing method for the electrospinning of silicone elastomers based on combining a heated plate collector and a ceramic heat emitter. A parameter study is conducted to ascertain the influence of the process parameters in the new system on process stability and fiber morphology. The system described was successfully employed to produce homogeneous fiber nonwovens with connected fiber interspaces. The voltage, the distance between the cannula and the collector, and the power of the ceramic heat emitter influence the fiber diameter significantly. These factors can serve as control parameters for achieving the desired fiber morphology. This protocol establishes a robust methodology for investigating the production of silicone elastomer fibers via electrospinning and their subsequent application.