Nanofibrous materials as drug, protein, or genetic release vehicles

An electrospinning perfusion method for forming a fabricated textile suitable for use as a medical article, said method comprising the steps of:

• dissolving a non-biodegradable polyester or polyurethane and a pre-chosen biologically-active agent in hexafluoroisopropanol to provide an admixture, the dissolving step occurring at an ice-cold temperature;
• loading the admixture into an electrospinning perfusion assembly comprised of at least one perfusion instrument which can be set at a specified flow rate, the perfusion instrument having a spinneret sized to produce nanofibers with a diameter of less than about 2 micrometers;
• perfusing said admixture through the spinneret and onto a target surface at the specified flow rate, the step of perfusing occurring at a temperature between 15° C. and 30° C. to provide a perfused admixture comprising polymeric fibers with a diameter of less than about 2 micrometers;
• removing the perfused admixture from the target surface to form a nanofibrous fabricated textile which consists essentially of the non-degradable polyester or polyurethane and the pre-chosen biologically-active agent, the biologically active agent being releasably entrapped within the non-degradable polyester or polyurethane.

An electrospinning perfusion method for forming a fabricated textile suitable for use as a medical article, said method comprising the steps of:

• dissolving a non-biodegradable polymer and a pre-chosen biologically-active agent in an organic solvent to provide an admixture, the dissolving step occurring at temperature of about 4° C.;
• permitting the admixture to warm to a temperature between about 20° C. and about 25° C.;
• loading the admixture into an electrospinning perfusion assembly comprised of at least one perfusion instrument which can be set at a specified flow rate;
• perfusing said admixture onto a target surface at the specified flow rate, the step of perfusing occurring at a temperature between about 20° C. and about 25° C. to provide a perfused material;
• removing the perfused material from the target surface to form a nanofibrous fabricated textile.