Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats: From Vascular Repair to Osteointegration

Abstract

Electrospinning is a versatile technique for generating a mat of continuous fibers with diameters from a few nanometers to several micrometers. The diversity of electrospinnable materials, and the unique features associated with electrospun fibers make this technique and its resultant structures attractive for applications in the biomedical field. This article presents an overview of this technique focusing on its application for tissue engineering. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of using an electrospinning mat for biomedical applications are discussed. It reviews the different available electrospinning configurations, detailing how the different process variables and material types determine the obtained fibers characteristics. Then a description of how nanofiber based scaffolds offer great promise in the regeneration or function restoration of damaged or diseased bones, muscles or nervous tissue is reported. Different methods for incorporating active agents on nanofibers and controlling their release mechanisms are also reviewed. The review concludes with some personal perspectives on the future work to be done in order to include electrospinning technique in the industrial development of biomedical materials.

Improving PLA ductility using only 0.05% of CNTs and 0.25% of an azo-dye

“…This is one of the critical points in the processing of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer based in aliphatic polyesters, presently used in different industries such as biomedical [4] and packaging [5], as its mechanical and barrier properties are comparable to those of petroleum-based plastics [6] [7] and [8]. However, the low elongation at break that is typical of this polymer limits some of its uses.…”

Reversible swelling as a strategy in the development of smart membranes from electrospun polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber mats

“…Some of the current challenges in water purification are the development of low‐cost membranes for ultra/nanofiltration, to remove pollutants of small size, and the avoidance or partial control of the fouling effect. The electrospinning technique allows manufacturing nano/microporous polymeric membranes made of nanometric fibers, with high surface/volume ratio and the possibility of being chemically modified, optimizing their selectivity …”

Matching Static and Dynamic Compliance of Small‐Diameter Arteries, with Poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) Copolymers: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

“…In recent years, biodegradable materials have gained increasing attention for vascular implants, primarily because they act as scaffolds for tissue ingrowth and cellular remodeling, and “disappear” when completely replaced with vascular tissue; biostable implants are unable to completely disappear or to be completely displaced with tissue 21. In our approach, we designed fully degradable tubular constructs made of poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PLC 0:100) and poly( l ‐lactide‐ co ‐ε‐caprolactone) (PLC) to match the mechanical properties of native arteries; this family of materials degrade completely over a time period of 1.5–2 or more years, which is well in excess of the time needed for tissue ingrowth and replacement 22–24…”

“…[9,19] In recent years, biodegradable materials have gained increasing attention for vascular implants, primarily because they act as scaffolds for tissue ingrowth and cellular remodeling, and "disappear" when completely replaced with vascular tissue; biostable implants are unable to completely disappear or to be completely displaced with tissue. [21] In our approach,…”