This book describes the development of three dimensional electroactive fibres using a novel coaxial wet-spinning approach from organic conductors in combination with non-conducting hydrogel polymers. This book also presents the characterization and evaluation of multiaxial biofibres in terms of mechanical, physical, electrochemical and biological properties, and explores their use in a diverse range of applications including implantable electrodes, drug delivery systems and energy-storage systems. In the first chapter, the author highlights the significance of engineering three dimensional fibres, introduces the involved hydrogels and organic conductors with emphasis on their biomedical application, and collects some of the previously established methods for fabrication of biofibres. In the second chapter, particular attention is given to the overall experimental fabrication methods and characterization analyses conducted in the work. Chapters three to fivepresent the main findings of this work, in which readers will discover how novel hybrid hydrogel fibres with an inner core of chitosan and alginate were prepared and characterized, how graphene was incorporated into coaxial wet-spun biofibres, and how one-dimensional triaxial fibres were developed using a novel coaxial wet-spinning fibre production method and applied as potential battery devices. In the final chapter of this work, the author summarizes the main achievements of the work and outlines some recommendations for future research.

Autorentext

Azadeh Mirabedini is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Swinburne University of Technology. She previously majored in polymer engineering and coatings from the Amirkabir University of Technology, through her undergraduate studies. After undertaking a number of projects as well as tutoring several courses at the university, she commenced her master's studies at Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute. Azadeh's research interests include fabrication of smart hybrid macro/nano structures, soft robotics and nanomaterials. Azadeh joined Prof Gordon Wallace's group at Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) within the University of Wollongong to complete her PhD in 2012. Her project was focused on developing biocompatible electroactive multiaxial fibres with great potential to be used as implantable electrodes or power sources within the body media. She has then worked as a research associate at IPRI to develop and analysis electroactive 3D hybrid scaffolds for nerve/muscle regeneration applications till November 2017.

Inhalt
Introduction.- General Experimental.- Preparation and Characterization of Novel Hybrid Hydrogel Fibres.- Fabrication of Coaxial Wet-spun Biofibres containing Graphene Core.- Development of One-Dimensional Triaxial Fibres as Potential Bio-Battery Structures.- Conclusion and Future Work.