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We describe the fabrication of a biomimically designed superhydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) surface, which was obtained using a modified electrostatic process. The fabricated surface exhibits a micron-sized pyramid structure consisting of accumulated droplets and nanofibres. By using this simple one-step process, we can achieve a superhydrophobic surface having both a high water contact angle and low threshold sliding angle, similar to that of the superhydrophobic plant leaf.

Engineered polymer scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering. An ideal scaffold should have good mechanical properties and provide a biologically functional implant site. Considering their large surface area and high porosity, nanofibers have good potential as biomimetic scaffolds. However, the main shortcomings of scaffolds consisting of nanofibers are their mechanical inability to sustain a stress environment for neotissues and shape-ability to form a variety of shapes and sizes. In this study, we produced design-based poly (e-carprolactone) (PCL) nanofiber mats using an electrospinning method with various auxiliary electrodes and an x-y moving system. To achieve stable initial solution at a nozzle tip of the electrospinning, various types of auxiliary electrodes were introduced. To characterize the effect of the electrodes in the electric-field distribution near the nozzle tip, we calculated the electric field concentration factor and compared it with the experimental results. The nanofiber mat produced using the moving x-y target system demonstrated orthotropic mechanical properties due to the fiber orientation, and human dermal fibroblasts seeded on the structure tended to grow according to nanofiber orientation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:707–712, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.