Biofunctionalization and Applications of Polymeric Nanofibers in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

The limited ability of most human tissues to regenerate has necessitated the interventions namely autograft and allograft, both of which carry the limitations of its own. An alternative to such interventions could be the capability to regenerate the tissue in vivo.Regeneration of tissue using the innate capacity of the cells to regenerate is studied under the discipline of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Besides the cells and growth-controlling bioactives, scaffolds play the central role in TERM which is analogous to the role performed by extracellular matrix (ECM) in the vivo. Mimicking the structure of ECM at the nanoscale is one of the critical attributes demonstrated by nanofibers. This unique feature and its customizable structure to befit different types of tissues make nanofibers a competent candidate for tissue engineering. This review discusses broad range of natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers employed to construct nanofibers as well as biofunctionalization of polymers to improve cellular interaction and tissue integration. Amongst the diverse ways to fabricate nanofibers, electrospinning has been discussed in detail along with advances in this technique. Review also presents a discourse on application of nanofibers for a range of tissues, namely neural, vascular, cartilage, bone, dermal and cardiac.

The Effect of Multilayered Electrospun PLLA Nanofibers Coated with Human Amnion or Bladder ECM Proteins on Epithelialization and Smooth Muscle Regeneration in the Rabbit Bladder

“…The crosslinking of ECM proteins to the surface of nanofibers can lead to better results in terms of the scaffold's mechanical and biological functions. [23,24] In this regard, Lee et al Showed that the crosslinking of gelatin to Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrils enhanced cellular attachments. [25] In a similar approach by Li et al, it was found that the surface modification of nanofibers with hyaluronic acid in an in vivo model could increase migration and attachments of host endothelial cells, resulting in improved angiogenesis.…”

“…The crosslinking of ECM proteins to the surface of nanofibers can lead to better results in terms of the scaffold's mechanical and biological functions. [ 23,24 ] In this regard, Lee et al. Showed that the crosslinking of gelatin to Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrils enhanced cellular attachments.…”

Extracellular matrix-induced signaling pathways in mesenchymal stem/stromal cells

“…Biofunctionalization of tissue engineering materials improves cellular interaction and tissue integration. Currently, a large number of functionalization methods of tissue engineering materials are known, ranging from single peptides and components of ECM, including enzymes responsible for its remodeling, to decellularization of tissues and whole organs, which is described in detail in the reviews [ 158 , 178 – 180 ]. The success of the approach to obtain ECM secreted by a specific cell type, such as MSC, can be assessed based on recent studies in this area [ 181 – 183 ].…”

Tensile benefits of nanofibers in commercial paint films

“…Nanofibers, both natural and synthesized, show great promise as nanofillers to improve the tensile properties of a variety of polymeric systems. [1][2][3] Most of the work on nanofibers so far has focused on developing new synthetic methods, many of which are not suited to large scale synthesis. For example, electrospinning is used to synthesize nanofibers, but scalingup for industrial applications has proved challenging due to low yield 4 and variable quality.…”