Systems and methods for facilitating the generation of core-sheath taylor cones in electrospinning

A method for electrospinning a core-sheath fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrospinning apparatus comprising a first vessel having a first elongate aperture, a second vessel having a second elongate aperture, wherein the first and second elongate apertures are aligned along a single central axis, and a collector positioned at a distance from the first and second elongate apertures;
• flowing a first flowable material comprising a core polymer into the first vessel;
• flowing a second flowable material comprising a sheath polymer into the second vessel;
• adjusting a height of the first vessel and first elongate aperture relative to the height of the second elongate aperture;
• and
• applying an electric potential between the collector and the first and second apertures, the electric potential having a magnitude and an orientation effective to form at least one electrospinning jet, wherein at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a width of the first or second aperture, a length of the first or second aperture, and a flow rate of the first or second flowable material is chosen to optimize a shear stress generated at a fluid interface between the first and second flowable materials during the application of the potential, such that a desired ratio of core and sheath polymers is incorporated into the at least one electrospinning jet.