Nano/microfibrous polymeric constructs loaded with bioactive agents and designed for tissue engineering applications: A review

Abstract

Nano/microfibrous polymeric constructs present various inherent advantages, such as highly porous architecture and high surface to volume ratio, making them attractive for tissue engineering purposes. Electrospinning is the most preferred technique for the fabrication of polymeric nanofibrous assemblies that can mimic the physical functions of native extracellular matrix greatly favoring cells attachment and thus influencing their morphology and activities. Different approaches have been developed to apply polymeric microfiber fabrication techniques (e.g. wet-spinning) for the obtainment of scaffolds with a three-dimensional network of micropores suitable for effective cells migration. Progress in additive manufacturing technology has led to the development of complex scaffold's shapes and microfibrous structures with a high degree of automation, good accuracy and reproducibility. Various loading methods, such as direct blending, coaxial electrospinning and microparticles incorporation, are enabling to develop customized strategies for the biofunctionalization of nano/microfibrous scaffolds with a tailored kinetics of release of different bioactive agents, ranging from small molecules, such as antibiotics, to protein drugs, such as growth factors, and even cells. Recent activities on the combination of different processing techniques and loading methods for the obtainment of biofunctionalized polymeric constructs with a complex multiscale structure open new possibilities for the development of biomimetic scaffolds endowed with a hierarchical architecture and a sophisticated release kinetics of different bioactive agents. This review is aimed at summarizing current advances in technologies and methods for manufacturing nano/microfibrous polymeric constructs suitable as tissue engineering scaffolds, and for their combination with different bioactive agents to promote tissue regeneration and therapeutic effects.

Integrated three‐dimensional fiber/hydrogel biphasic scaffolds for periodontal bone tissue engineering

“…This can allow us to tailor the scaffold biodegradation rate, mass transfer phenomena associated with cell activities and release of loaded drugs, as well as the surface roughness influencing cell adhesion and proliferation. 52 Dimensional analysis of the scaffold structural parameters revealed a fiber diameter in the range 200-300 μm and an XY pore dimension that varied from 200 to 1800 μm by increasing d xy from 0.5 to 2.0 μm ( Table 1). The presence of HA nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix did not remarkably influence the two investigated structural parameters.…”

Controlled drug release for tissue engineering

“…25,30 Several excellent review articles cover the methods used to synthesize NF scaffolds and their applications for drug delivery in tissue engineering. 2,31–38 In short, there are three major methods to synthesize NF scaffolds including self-assembly, electrospinning, and thermally induced phase separation. Controlled release can be accomplished by the same three methods as nonnanofibrous scaffolds.…”

Biofabrication and biomaterials for urinary tract reconstruction

“…Unlike conventional techniques, AM-3D printing-rapid prototyping controls scaffold microarchitecture with greatest precision 59. AM builds scaffold layers from ground level.…”