Solution blow spinning (SBS) is a technique that can be used to deposit fibers in situ at low cost for a variety of applications, which include biomedical materials and flexible electronics. This review is intended to provide an overview of the basic principles and applications of SBS. We first describe a method for creating a spinnable polymer solution and stable polymer solution jet by manipulating parameters such as polymer concentration and gas pressure. This method is based on fundamental insights, theoretical models, and empirical studies. We then discuss the unique bundled morphology and mechanical properties of fiber mats produced by SBS, and how they compare with electrospun fiber mats. Applications of SBS in biomedical engineering are highlighted, showing enhanced cell infiltration and proliferation versus electrospun fiber scaffolds and in situ deposition of biodegradable polymers. We also discuss the impact of SBS in applications involving textiles and electronics, including ceramic fibers and conductive composite materials. Strategies for future research are presented that take advantage of direct and rapid polymer deposition via cost-effective methods.

Wide interest in new hemostatic approaches has stemmed from unmet needs in the hospital and on the battlefield. Many current commercial hemostatic agents fail to fulfill the design requirements of safety, efficacy, cost, and storage. Academic focus has led to the improvement of existing strategies as well as new developments. This review will identify and discuss the three major classes of hemostatic approaches: biologically derived materials, synthetically derived materials, and intravenously administered hemostatic agents. The general class is first discussed, then specific approaches discussed in detail, including the hemostatic mechanisms and the advancement of the method. As hemostatic strategies evolve and synthetic-biologic interactions are more fully understood, current clinical methodologies will be replaced.

Approximately 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States leading to 600 000 deaths. Patient survival rates are highly correlated with the stage of cancer diagnosis, with localized and regional remission rates that are much higher than for metastatic cancer. The current standard of care for many solid tumors includes imaging and biopsy with histological assessment. In many cases, after tomographical imaging modalities have identified abnormal morphology consistent with cancer, surgery is performed to remove the primary tumor and evaluate the surrounding lymph nodes. Accurate identification of tumor margins and staging are critical for selecting optimal treatments to minimize recurrence. Visible, fluorescent, and radiolabeled small molecules have been used as contrast agents to improve detection during real-time intraoperative imaging. Unfortunately, current dyes lack the tissue specificity, stability, and signal penetration needed for optimal performance. Quantum dots (QDs) represent an exciting class of fluorescent probes for optical imaging with tunable optical properties, high stability, and the ability to target tumors or lymph nodes based on surface functionalization. Here, state-of-the-art biocompatible QDs are compared with current Food and Drug Administration approved fluorophores used in cancer imaging and a perspective on the pathway to clinical translation is provided.

Three-dimensional (3D) microstructures created by microfabrication and additive manufacturing have demonstrated value across a number of fields, ranging from biomedicine to microelectronics. However, the techniques used to create these devices each have their own characteristic set of advantages and limitations with regards to resolution, material compatibility, and geometrical constraints that determine the types of microstructures that can be formed. We describe a microfabrication method, termed StampEd Assembly of polymer Layers (SEAL), and create injectable pulsatile drug-delivery microparticles, pH sensors, and 3D microfluidic devices that we could not produce using traditional 3D printing. SEAL allows us to generate microstructures with complex geometry at high resolution, produce fully enclosed internal cavities containing a solid or liquid, and use potentially any thermoplastic material without processing additives.

Nanofiber mats and scaffolds have been widely investigated for biomedical applications. Commonly fabricated using electrospinning, nanofibers are generated ex situ using an apparatus that requires high voltages and an electrically conductive target. We report the use of solution blow spinning to generate conformal nanofiber mats/meshes on any surface in situ, utilizing only a commercial airbrush and compressed CO2. Solution and deposition conditions of PLGA nanofibers were optimized and mechanical properties characterized with dynamic mechanical analysis. Nanofiber mat degradation was monitored for morphologic and molecular weight changes in vitro. Biocompatibility of the direct deposition of nanofibers onto two cell lines was demonstrated in vitro and interaction with blood was qualitatively assessed with scanning electron microscopy. A pilot animal study illustrated the wide potential of this technique across multiple surgical applications, including its use as a surgical sealant, hemostatic, and buttress for tissue repair.