A wide
range of particles have been developed for different applications
in drug-delivery, tissue engineering, or regenerative medicine. In
contrast to traditional spherical particles, nonspherical (e.g., cylindrical)
particles possess several structural and morphological advantages
that make them attractive for specific applications. Here, we developed
a top-down approach to process electrospun fibers into microsized
cylinders (i.e., microcylinders) with high specific surface area and
with or without surface porosity. To obtain these microcylinders,
poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) solutions were subjected to electrospinning,
followed by an aminolysis-based chemical scission procedure. The morphology,
structure, and chemical composition of the microcylinders were then
characterized. The specific surface area and surface porosity of the
microcylinders were controlled by the volatility of the solvents,
and their length was dependent on the duration of the aminolysis reaction.
During aminolysis, the microcylinders became functionalized with amine
groups, enabling potential further modifications by grafting with
compounds containing desired chemical groups, for example, carboxyl,
carbonyl, or hydroxyl functional groups. Additionally, the microcylinders
showed in vitro biocompatible properties related to cell viability.
These data demonstrate that PLLA microcylinders with high specific
surface area, optional surface porosity, amine-based functional handles
granting additional functionalization, and cytocompatible properties
are candidate materials for future biomedical applications.