A successful biomaterial–neural tissue interface should demonstrate biocompatibility, cytocompatibility, the ability to integrate properly within neural tissues, and the prolonged maintenance of desired electrical properties. Neural electrodes implanted in vivo often experience degradation of these properties due to implant micromotion, mechanical mismatch, an extensive foreign‐body response, and the formation of glial scar tissue that interfere with signal transmission. However, recent advances in nanotechnology and nanomaterials show great promise to address these problems due to their biologically inspired surface features and enhanced electrical properties. This review will discuss how nanomaterials and nanotechnology are being used to fabricate advanced neural electrodes that demonstrate greater bio‐integration properties, enhanced prolonged electrical properties, and an improved signal specificity down to the single molecule range. First, an overview of current biomaterial–neural tissue interface technology is provided, followed by an examination of conventional and newly developed micro‐ and nano‐fabrication methodologies. Nanomaterials that have shown the most promise for neural interfacial applications are then discussed, including carbon nanomaterials, conductive polymers, and hybrid nanomaterials. The purpose of this review is to describe recent advances in nanotechnology for improved biomaterial–neural tissue interfaces, and identify their advantages and disadvantages from a researcher's perspective.

Biomimicry strategies, inspired from natural organization of living organisms, are being widely used in the design of nanobiomaterials. Particularly, nonlithographic techniques have shown immense potential in the facile fabrication of nanostructured surfaces at large-scale production. Orthopedic biomaterials or coatings possessing extracellular matrix-like nanoscale features induce desirable interactions between the bone tissue and implant surface, also known as osseointegration. In this study, nanopillared chitosan/gelatin (C/G) films were fabricated using nanoporous anodic alumina molds, and their antibacterial properties as well as osteogenesis potential were analyzed by comparing to the flat C/G films and tissue culture polystyrene as controls. In vitro analysis of the expression of RUNX2, osteopontion, and osteocalcin genes for mesenchymal stem cells as well as osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells was found to be increased for the cells grown on nano C/G films, indicating early-stage osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, the mineralization tests (quantitative calcium analysis and alizarin red staining) showed that nanotopography significantly enhanced the mineralization capacity of both cell lines. This work may provide a new perspective of biomimetic surface topography fabrication for orthopedic implant coatings with superior osteogenic differentiation capacity and fast bone regeneration potential.

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Tissue engineering is an emergent and very interesting research field, providing potential solutions for a myriad of challenges in healthcare. Fibrous scaffolds specifically have shown promise as an effective tissue engineering method, as their high length-to-width ratio mimics that of extracellular matrix components, which in turn guides tissue formation, promotes cellular adhesion and improves mechanical properties. In this review paper, we discuss in detail both the importance of fibrous scaffolds for the promotion of tissue growth and the different methods to produce fibrous biomaterials to possess favorable and unique characteristics. Here, we focus on the pressing need to develop biomimetic structures that promote an ideal environment to encourage tissue formation. In addition, we discuss different biomedical applications in which fibrous scaffolds can be useful, identifying their importance, relevant aspects, and remaining significant challenges. In conclusion, we provide comments on the future direction of fibrous scaffolds and the best way to produce them, proposed in light of recent technological advances and the newest and most promising fabrication techniques.

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