The present invention provides a modified fibroin fiber having a shrinkage history of being irreversibly shrunk after spinning, the modified fibroin fiber containing modified fibroin, wherein a fiber diameter of a raw material fiber before being irreversibly shrunk exceeds 25 m.

An apparatus for making a spunbond nonwoven from endless filaments of a thermoplastic synthetic resin has a spinneret for spinning the filaments in a filament-travel direction into a spinning zone and a monomer aspirator downstream of the spinneret and having two vacuum intake ports flanking the spinning zone zone, horizontally confronting each other, and each extending transversely to the direction opposite one another. Suction means connected to the two ports withdraws gas through both the vacuum intake ports. The suction and/or the ports are set up to vary the flow through the vacuum intake ports such that substantially more gas flows through one of the ports than through the other.

A composition comprising a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments comprising at least one polymer, a plurality of electrospun fiber fragment clusters comprising at least one polymer, and, optionally, a carrier medium, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit comprising a first component of a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments, a carrier medium, and, optionally, a plurality of cells. Also disclosed is a biocompatible textile comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments. Also disclosed is a biocompatible suture comprising at least one electrospun fiber. Also disclosed is a method for making a biocompatible suture, comprising electrospinning a polymer solution onto a receiving surface, forming one or more non-overlapping nanofiber threads, removing the nanofiber threads from the receiving surface, and cutting the nanofiber threads into one or more biocompatible sutures.

A composition comprising a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments comprising at least one polymer, a plurality of electrospun fiber fragment clusters comprising at least one polymer, and, optionally, a carrier medium, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit comprising a first component of a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments, a carrier medium, and, optionally, a plurality of cells. Also disclosed is a biocompatible textile comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments. Also disclosed is a biocompatible suture comprising at least one electrospun fiber. Also disclosed is a method for making a biocompatible suture, comprising electrospinning a polymer solution onto a receiving surface, forming one or more non-overlapping nanofiber threads, removing the nanofiber threads from the receiving surface, and cutting the nanofiber threads into one or more biocompatible sutures.

Systems for producing M bundles of filaments, wherein M>1, include N extruders. M spin stations, and a processor, wherein N>1. Each extruder includes a polymer having a color, hue, luster, and/or dyability characteristic, which are different from each other. Each spin station produces N bundles of filaments that form a yarn. Each spin station comprises N spinnerets through which filaments are spun from molten polymers streams received by the respective spin station and N spin pumps upstream of the N spinnerets for the respective spin station. Each spin pump is paired with one of the Nextruders. The processor is in electrical communication with the N*M spin pumps and is configured to adjust the volumetric flow rate of the polymers pumped from each spin pump to achieve a ratio of the polymers to be included in the yarn from each spin station.

Systems for producing M bundles of filaments, wherein M>1, include N extruders. M spin stations, and a processor, wherein N>1. Each extruder includes a polymer having a color, hue, luster, and/or dyability characteristic, which are different from each other. Each spin station produces N bundles of filaments that form a yarn. Each spin station comprises N spinnerets through which filaments are spun from molten polymers streams received by the respective spin station and N spin pumps upstream of the N spinnerets for the respective spin station. Each spin pump is paired with one of the Nextruders. The processor is in electrical communication with the N*M spin pumps and is configured to adjust the volumetric flow rate of the polymers pumped from each spin pump to achieve a ratio of the polymers to be included in the yarn from each spin station.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of creating an object with a conduit is disclosed. A material is deposited on a sacrificial collector; and, the sacrificial collector is then removed to create the object with the conduit. Both the object and the sacrificial collector can approximate the shape of desired blood vessel. The method can also include a 3-D printing of the desired shape of the mold and utilization of gallium as the sacrificial collector. The sacrificial object is created by insertion of the gallium in the mold. After removal of the gallium from the mold, fibers are electrospun onto the gallium. The gallium is removed through meltingleaving a scaffold, the object with the conduit. In addition to the gallium, an extra sacrificial layer of a water-soluble material may be utilized.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of creating an object with a conduit is disclosed. A material is deposited on a sacrificial collector; and, the sacrificial collector is then removed to create the object with the conduit. Both the object and the sacrificial collector can approximate the shape of desired blood vessel. The method can also include a 3-D printing of the desired shape of the mold and utilization of gallium as the sacrificial collector. The sacrificial object is created by insertion of the gallium in the mold. After removal of the gallium from the mold, fibers are electrospun onto the gallium. The gallium is removed through meltingleaving a scaffold, the object with the conduit. In addition to the gallium, an extra sacrificial layer of a water-soluble material may be utilized.

A fluffy and voluminous artificial hair and a method for producing the same are provided. Artificial hair including a fiber cord with one or more fiber bundles braided or spirally wound has a configuration in which the fiber bundle is a bundle of a plurality of fibers including a first fiber and a second fiber. A cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle has a core and a shell enclosing the core. The core has a blend of the first fiber and the second fiber. The shell consists of the second fiber. A total area of voids in the shell on the cross section is larger than a total area of voids in the core on the cross section.

A fluffy and voluminous artificial hair and a method for producing the same are provided. Artificial hair including a fiber cord with one or more fiber bundles braided or spirally wound has a configuration in which the fiber bundle is a bundle of a plurality of fibers including a first fiber and a second fiber. A cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle has a core and a shell enclosing the core. The core has a blend of the first fiber and the second fiber. The shell consists of the second fiber. A total area of voids in the shell on the cross section is larger than a total area of voids in the core on the cross section.