Electrospun nanofibrous materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery

Abstract

The electrospinning technique, which was invented about 100 years ago, has attracted more attention in recent years due to its possible biomedical applications. Electrospun fibers with high surface area to volume ratio and structures mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) have shown great potential in tissue engineering and drug delivery. In order to develop electrospun fibers for these applications, different biocompatible materials have been used to fabricate fibers with different structures and morphologies, such as single fibers with different composition and structures (blending and core-shell composite fibers) and fiber assemblies (fiber bundles, membranes and scaffolds). This review summarizes the electrospinning techniques which control the composition and structures of the nanofibrous materials. It also outlines possible applications of these fibrous materials in skin, blood vessels, nervous system and bone tissue engineering, as well as in drug delivery.

Innovative biodegradable poly(L-lactide)/collagen/<br />hydroxyapatite composite fibrous scaffolds promote osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation

“…8 With a high surface area to volume ratio and high porosity, the scaffolds can provide a microenvironment for cell adhesion and growth. 9 So the electrospun scaffolds are always designed to serve as an ideal bone substitute. 10 Various synthetic and natural polymers or inorganic substances have been used to fabricate nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds.…”

Temporary placement of a paclitaxel or rapamycin-eluting stent is effective to reduce stenting induced inflammatory reaction and scaring in benign cardia stricture models

“…The drug-eluting nano-fiber membrane was knitted using electrospinning techniques with mixed paclitaxel (rapamycin)/ Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) nano-fibers (paclitaxel/rapamycin: PCL=1:50), as previously described (15). The electrospun scaffolds were collected on the surface of the rolling stent and vacuum dried at room temperature for 24 hours.…”

In situ precise electrospinning of medical glue fibers as nonsuture dural repair with high sealing capability and flexibility

“…The jet is accelerated toward the grounded collector and produces fibers in the form of a nonwoven mat. 20 With large surface-to-volume ratio and high porosity, electrospun nanofibers from natural and synthetic biomedical polymers can be made for applications in biomedical, [21][22][23] energy storage, 24,25 environment engineering, [26][27][28] health care, 29,30 biotechnology, 31,32 etc. In this study, we attempt to develop NOCA ultrathin fibers by the solvent-free electrospinning technique, in which the NOCA monomers undergo self-assembly into micro/nanofibers in the presence of hydroxide ions.…”