Biodegradable Nanomats Produced by Electrospinning: Expanding Multifunctionality and Potential for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

With increasing interest in nanotechnology, development of nanofibers (n-fibers) by using the technique of electrospinning is gaining new momentum. Among important potential applications of n-fiber-based structures, scaffolds for tissue-engineering represent an advancing front. Nanoscaffolds (n-scaffolds) are closer to natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and its nanoscale fibrous structure. Although the technique of electrospinning is relatively old, various improvements have been made in the last decades to explore the spinning of submicron fibers from biodegradable polymers and to develop also multifunctional drug-releasing and bioactive scaffolds. Various factors can affect the properties of resulting nanostructures that can be classified into three main categories, namely: (1) Substrate related, (2) Apparatus related, and (3) Environment related factors. Developed n-scaffolds were tested for their cytocompatibility using different cell models and were seeded with cells for to develop tissue engineering constructs. Most importantly, studies have looked at the potential of using n-scaffolds for the development of blood vessels. There is a large area ahead for further applications and development of the field. For instance, multifunctional scaffolds that can be used as controlled delivery system do have a potential and have yet to be investigated for engineering of various tissues. So far, in vivo data on n-scaffolds are scarce, but in future reports are expected to emerge. With the convergence of the fields of nanotechnology, drug release and tissue engineering, new solutions could be found for the current limitations of tissue engineering scaffolds, which may enhance their functionality upon in vivo implantation. In this paper electrospinning process, factors affecting it, used polymers, developed n-scaffolds and their characterization are reviewed with focus on application in tissue engineering.

A Perspective: Engineering Periosteum for Structural Bone Graft Healing

“…Of these techniques, electrospinning has emerged as a simple and versatile technique that can produce a porous scaffold comprising randomly oriented or aligned nanofibers characteristic of extracellular matrix. Combined with various design polymers, fibers can incorporate drug delivery function and biochemical signals into the scaffold [4]. Endowed with both topographic and biochemical signals, such nanofibrous scaffolds may provide an optimal microenvironment for the seeded cells [46].…”

Melt blown Polymeric Nanofibers for Medical Applications- An Overview

“…Furthermore, a new composite scaffold with EP4 combined (four repeats of exons 20-24) with a thiol-modified hyaluronan and a Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) cross linker for nucleus pulposus repair and/ or treatment of early degenerative disc degeneration (DDD) was evaluated for its viability and gene expression of NP-associated genes for pathologic human disc cells. The aggregate modulus of 27.6 kPa and cell viability was observed [36]. However, when injected acellularly in rabbits, no evidence of an inflammatory response was observed and there was no difference between treated and untreated discs in disc volume suggesting limited benefit of injection of the ELP.…”

Nanomembranes and Nanofibers from Biodegradable Conducting Polymers

“…The architecture of the biomaterial is also very important and specifically scaffolds constituted by electrospun nanofibers have promising features like big surface area for absorbing proteins and abundance of binding sites to cell membrane receptors. Different reviews are concerned with the formation of biodegradable nanomats by electrospinning and their potential use for tissue engineering applications [10,11], the generation of smart scaffolds [12] or the use of functional electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications [13]. Nanomembranes (NMs) constitute nowadays an interesting topic in the wide field of nanotechnologies.…”