Defined structures for tissue engineering can be achieved by a variety of techniques, one of which includes melt-electrowriting (MEW), a technology that deposits spatially defined microfibers of a molten polymer across an electric field. In this study, the authors investigate how to microfabricate biomaterial-meshes using MEW to non-planar surfaces that will have more applicability to anatomical structures. By modeling the electric field strength associated with MEW, it is found that incorporation of a non-conductive 3D printed mould on the conductive collector plate offers the ability to accurately print patterns on non-planar surfaces successfully. Importantly, if the applied voltage at the nozzle or collector plate is kept constant in the MEW process, the electrostatic behavior of the deposited polymer, and the electric field strength between the collector and nozzle (which is greatest at the nozzle) has the greatest impact on the accuracy of fiber patterning and stacking. Consequently, controlled fiber deposition is exhibited, provided that a constant voltage and a constant vertical distance between the nozzle and the mould are maintained. Overall, this study establishes the groundwork to support further developments in MEW technologies, from flat to anatomically relevant 3D structures in the fields of regenerative medicine and biofabrication.

Defined ordered structures for biomaterials and tissue engineering applications can be achieved by a variety of techniques, one of which includes the electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-based application of melt electrowriting (MEW), the extrusion of a molten polymer filament under pressure across a defined electric field. In this study, we investigate how to translate small fibremeshes which are usually formed on flat surfaces, to curved contours that would have more applicability to human anatomical structures. By modelling the electric field strength associated with the MEW process, we found that incorporation of a non conductive three-dimensional (3D) custom printed mould on the conductive collector plate offers the ability to accurately print patterns on non-flat surfaces successfully. Importantly, while the electric field strength is a constant in the MEW process; the electrostatic behaviour of the deposited polymer has the greatest impact on the accuracy of fibre patterning and stacking. Consequently, controlled fibre deposition was exhibited, provided that a constant electrical field strength and a continuous vertical distance between the nozzle and the mould is maintained.Overall, this study establishes the groundwork to support further developments in MEW technologies, from flat to anatomically relevant 3D structures in the fields of regenerative medicine and biofabrication.