Electrospinning and Additive Manufacturing: Adding Three-Dimensionality to Electrospun Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

The final biochemical and mechanical performance of an implant or scaffold are defined by its structure, as well as the raw materials and processing conditions used during its fabrication. Electrospinning and Additive Manufacturing (AM) are two contrasting processing technologies that have gained popularity amongst the fields of medical research i.e., tissue engineering, implant design, drug delivery. Electrospinning technology is favored for its ability to produce micro- to nanometer fibers from polymer solutions and melts, of which, the dimensions, alignment, porosity, and chemical composition are easily manipulatable to the desired application. AM, on the other hand, offers unrivalled levels of geometrical freedom, allowing highly complex components (i.e., patient-specific) to be built inexpensively within 24 hours. Hence, adopting both technologies together appears to be a progressive step in pursuit of scaffolds that better match the natural architecture of human tissues. Here, we present recent insights into the advances on hybrid scaffolds produced by combining electrospinning (melt electrospinning excluded) and AM, specifically multi-layered architectures consisting of alternating fibers and AM elements, and bioinks reinforced with fibers prior to AM. We discuss how cellular behavior (attachment, migration, and differentiation) is influenced by the co-existence of these micro- and nano-features.

Nanofiber Carriers of Therapeutic Load: Current Trends

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Nanomaterials-Based Combinatorial Therapy as a Strategy to Combat Antibiotic Resistance

“…Among the most recent synthesis strategies and technologies to produce nanomaterials and their combinations, electrospinning and three-dimensional (3D) printing holds great promise as a production method for scaffolds, nanofibers, and supporting nanomaterials [ 82 ]. Electrospinning is a simple and versatile method for creating nanofiber materials and scaffolds with various structures and surface areas, which has a broad application field.…”

Engineered cell culture microenvironments for mechanobiology studies of brain neural cells

“…Electrospinning is an often-used technique to create micro and nano fibres for 3D cell culture ( Figure 3B ). Electrospinning uses high electric voltages (exceeding tens of kilovolts) to create a potential difference between a spinneret and a collector ( Smith and Mele, 2021 ). This results in an electrified polymer jetting from the tip of the spinneret.…”

“…By altering the setup, the fibres can be randomly deposited, have a high degree of alignment, and have varying porosity and chemical composition. Electrospinning has also been combined with 3D printing to create multiscale composite scaffolds ( Smith and Mele, 2021 ). The fibres can either have random directions or be aligned in a specific direction.…”