Synthetic/Biopolymer Nanofibrous Composites as Dynamic Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Abstract

Synthetic/biopolymer composite scaffolds can provide improved flexibility when designing optimized stem-cell-laden tissue repair devices for fiberreinforced tissues. Composites enable a range of mechanical properties, rates of degradation, and other functional attributes of a degradable scaffold to be finely tuned by modifying polymer sources and their processing techniques. Furthermore, marrying synthetic fibers spun from harsh solvents with polymers spun from mild organic or aqueous-based solvents can allow for delivery of active molecular species in these composites. In the pre-processing fabrication steps, polymers can be selected and combined from traditional or newer high-throughput approaches into networks with properties that reflect the individual components or their interactions. These properties may also depend on the spinning solvents used. In post-processing steps, factors such as the ambient environmental conditions or crosslinking solvent treatments can differentially affect the constituent polymers chosen. Several case studies will be discussed in order to highlight the potential advantages of these approaches. For example, many studies have shown that the mechanical properties of composite mats can be designed with superior or more tissue-like properties than individual polymer sources alone. Further, it has been shown that the degradation rates of the temporary scaffold can be more finely tuned in composites by combining rapidly and slowly degrading systems. The drug and growth factor delivery capabilities of these systems will similarly be reviewed. We conclude with an overview of several tissue engineering approaches that have exploited composite design features and discuss new promising avenues for study.

A Comparative Review of Natural and Synthetic Biopolymer Composite Scaffolds

“…While some of the polymer scaffolds mentioned above degrade enzymatically and/or hydrolytically, several other polymers, including PEO, PEG (i.e., the low molecular weight variant of PEO), and PVA, are used to induce more rapidly degrading or instantly soluble characteristics in scaffold materials [85,87]. The mechanical characteristics of PLA differ depending on their molecular weight and optical purity.…”

“…Poly(α-hydroxy esters) including PCL, PGA, PLA, and their copolymer PLGA and poly(ethers) including PEO and PEG, PVA, and PU are the most widely studied degradable synthetic materials. These are probably the most popular examples, although there are currently many other synthetic materials being sought [ 85 , 86 , 87 ]. These polymers have various levels of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties, but no single polymer holds all three of these critical properties at the optimum level [ 88 ].…”

Synthesis, characterisation and potential applications of polyaniline/chitosan‐Ag‐nano‐biocomposite

“…However, high‐environmental stability with low biodegradability gives rise to bioaccumulation of PANI or Ppy which is not sustainable [4, 11, 12]. Hence there is an urgent need to develop conducting biodegradable polymers by incorporating a matrix of natural biodegradable polymers such as chitosan, gelatin, collagen or cellulose [13, 14].…”

Macro, Micro, and Nano-Inspired Bioactive Polymeric Biomaterials in Therapeutic, and Regenerative Orofacial Applications

“… 14 However, their fundamental drawback is the lack of cell attachment sites and the need for chemical functionalization for cellular growth. 103 …”