Advances in Skin Regeneration: Application of Electrospun Scaffolds

Abstract

The paucity of cellular and molecular signals essential for normal wound healing makes severe dermatological ulcers stubborn to heal. The novel strategies of skin regenerative treatments are focused on the development of biologically responsive scaffolds accompanied by cells and multiple biomolecules resembling structural and biochemical cues of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds provide similar architecture to the ECM leading to enhancement of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration and neo tissue formation. This Review surveys the application of biocompatible natural, synthetic and composite polymers to fabricate electrospun scaffolds as skin substitutes and wound dressings. Furthermore, the application of biomolecules and therapeutic agents in the nanofibrous scaffolds viz growth factors, genes, antibiotics, silver nanoparticles, and natural medicines with the aim of ameliorating cellular behavior, wound healing, and skin regeneration are discussed.

Electrospun nanofibrous materials for wound healing applications

“…Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds in wound healing applications have been well demonstrated using a variety of natural, synthetic, and composite polymers and functionalization of fibers with active agents and herbal molecules [24][25][26]. A well-demonstrated example of each material is discussed under respective section of the chapter.…”

“…Incorporation of active agents into polymeric nanofibers is always of great interest in improved biomedical applications. To date, a variety of bioactive agents including antimicrobial agents, growth factors, genes, vitamins, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles have been introduced into polymeric nanofibers for enhanced wound healing [12,21,22,26]. A recent study by Li et al [37] demonstrated the incorporation of vitamin A palmitate (VA) and vitamin E TPGS (VE), common derivatives of the unstable vitamins A and E into biodegradable GE nanofibers using electrospinning.…”

“…There are many synthetic polymers including polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and polycaprolactone (PCL) that have been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their applications in tissue engineering [41]. The polymers including PLA, PCL, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), PEO, polyurethane (PU), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have been widely used in wound healing applications [17,21,26].…”

Electrospinning of natural polymers for advanced wound care: towards responsive and adaptive dressings

“…[9][10][11] Among them, fibrous nanostructures made of natural or synthetic polymers and produced by electrostatic spinning have recently received great attention. [12][13][14] These are in fact advanced and bioactive scaffolds that not only physically protect the wound from contaminants and infections like traditional dressings, but also are able to provide an ideal environment for skin regeneration, to release bioactive molecules, and to degrade at a controlled rate. This review provides an overview of the recent developments in the area of nanofibrous wound dressings based on natural bio-macromolecules.…”

Self-monitoring and self-correcting polymer fibers coated with carbon nanotubes

“…[7] As research continues, more and more functions, including hemostasis, absorbability, semi-permeability, and conformability, have been explored. [13] In existing bandage technology, however, not much work has been undertaken to study or monitor the deformation of the bandage and correct its deformation, especially in motion.…”