Electrospun scaffold tailored for tissue‐specific extracellular matrix

Abstract

The natural extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex structure that is built to meet the specific requirements of the tissue and organ. Primarily consisting of nanometer diameter fibrils, ECM may contain other vital substances such as proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycan and various minerals. Current research in tissue engineering involves trying to replicate the ECM such that it provides the environment for tissue regeneration. Electrospinning is a versatile process that results in nanofibers by applying a high voltage to electrically charge a liquid. A variety of polymers and other substances have been incorporated into the artificial nanofibrous scaffold. Surface modification and cross-linking of the nanofibers are some ways to improve the biocompatibility and stability of the scaffold. Electrospun scaffolds with oriented nanofibers and other assemblies can be constructed by modifying the electrospinning setup. Using electrospinning, researchers are able to specifically tailor the electrospun scaffold to meet the requirements of the tissue that they seek to regenerate. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that electrospun scaffolds hold great potential for tissue engineering applications.

Fibrin gels and their clinical and bioengineering applications

“…Aligned fibrin has been shown to enhance neurite alignment and could be a useful filler for nerve guidance channels (Dubey et al 2001). Electrospinning has the added advantage of being able to design more advanced patterns, such as cross-hatching, by manipulating the electric field ( Teo et al 2006). Control of solution conditions can also control fibre thickness and therefore permeability through the matrix (Sell et al 2008).…”

Hydrostatic pressure in combination with topographical cues affects the fate of bone marrow‐derived human mesenchymal stem cells for bone tissue regeneration

“…Commonly used materials for electrospinning are poly (ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL‐composites, which are attractive for bone tissue regeneration due to their mechanical properties, slow degradation rate, low cost and lack of toxicity 10, 11, 12. Due to their dimension and fibrous structure electrospun nanofibers resemble the native bone matrix and are thought to be an ideal artificial matrix to provide cues for the formation of calcified bone tissue 13, 14. Several groups have investigated the suitability of electrospun nano‐and microfibers for bone formation 10…”

Nanomembranes and Nanofibers from Biodegradable Conducting Polymers

“…The architecture of the biomaterial is also very important and specifically scaffolds constituted by electrospun nanofibers have promising features like big surface area for absorbing proteins and abundance of binding sites to cell membrane receptors. Different reviews are concerned with the formation of biodegradable nanomats by electrospinning and their potential use for tissue engineering applications [10,11], the generation of smart scaffolds [12] or the use of functional electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications [13]. Nanomembranes (NMs) constitute nowadays an interesting topic in the wide field of nanotechnologies.…”