Biomimetic Nanofibrous 3D Materials for Craniofacial Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

The repair of large bone defects using biomaterialsbased strategies has been a significant challenge because of the complex characteristics required for tissue regeneration, especially in the craniofacial region. Tissue engineering strategies aimed at the restoration of function face challenges in material selection, synthesis technique, and choice of bioactive factor release in combination with all aforementioned facets. Biomimetic nanofibrous (NF) scaffolds are attractive vehicles for tissue engineering because of their ability to promote endogenous bone regeneration by mimicking the shape and chemistry of natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, several techniques for generation of biomimetic NF scaffolds have been discovered, each possessing several advantages and drawbacks. This spotlight highlights two of the more popular techniques for biomimetic NF scaffold synthesis, electrospinning and thermally induced phase separation (TIPS), covering development from inception in each technique as well as discussing the most recent innovations in each fabrication method.

Modification of nanofibrous scaffolds to mimic extracellular matrix in physical and chemical structuring

“…[1,2] In addition to structural similarity to natural ECM, the electrospun fibers offer many advantages, such as their feasibility in controlling diameter ranging from nanoscale to microscale and natural porous structure. [3,4] Varied synthesized polymers, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polycaprolactone (PCL), [5,6] poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), [7,8] and poly(lactic acid) (PLA), [9,10] have been successfully electrospun into nanofibers with adjustable mechanical properties. However, the synthetic polymers always lack cell recognition sites and the hydrophilicity of the prepared scaffolds is usually very poor, which are very unfavorable for cell growth.…”

3D PCL/Gelatin/Genipin Nanofiber Sponge as Scaffold for Regenerative Medicine

“…A possible solution is the production of highly porous three-dimensional (3D) nanofiber sponges or aerogels from short nanofibrous building blocks using a self-assembly process in combination with subsequent freeze drying and cross-linking steps [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ] or the combination of electrospinning and 3D printing [ 41 ]. Recently, several approaches of using preformed nanofibers to assemble 3D nanofiber scaffolds for tissue engineering, in particular for bone, have been reported [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. This is in contrast to alternative approaches for porous 3D scaffolds, e.g., using sol–gel processes [ 52 ].…”

Three‐dimensional nanofibrous and porous scaffolds of poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐chitosan blends for musculoskeletal tissue engineering

“…Due to these limitations, the TISA technique has only been scarcely applied to the production of scaffolds, mainly with PCL nanofibers, 8,15,16 sometimes blended with Poly‐Lactic acid, 17,18 and with some attempts of mineralization 19 . All these scaffolds have been tested for bone tissue engineering 20,21 …”

“…19 All these scaffolds have been tested for bone tissue engineering. 20,21 Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a linear aliphatic polyester, biocompatible, biodegradable, bioreabsorbable, presenting good mechanical properties, with a low production cost and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the human body. Additionally, its melting temperature of 60 C makes this polymer an ideal candidate for TISA-based methodologies.…”