Micro/nanofiber-based structures for tissue engineering applications: potential and current challenges

P.R. CORTEZ TORNELLO; F. MONTINI BALLARÍN; P.C. CARACCIOLO; G.A. ABRAHAM

Applications of NanoBioMaterials Multi-Volume Set (I-XI), Volume V: NanoBioMaterials in Soft Tissue Engineering

Elsevier

Año: 2016; p. 201 - 229

Bioresorbablemicro/nanofiber-based structures are being studied as promising candidates fortissue engineering applications. Among the existing techniques for producingthese matrices, electrospinning has attracted interest in many technologicalfields as a versatile and powerful processing technique. Electrospunmicro/nanofibers possess high surface area-to-volume ratio, high porosity and poreinterconnectivity, and tunable fiber morphology and orientation. Moreover,submicron-fibers are found in the extracellular matrix of natural organs andtissues. To date, many synthetic and natural polymers, biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymers, ceramics and composite materials, have been successfully electrospun using a plethora of techniques. Although in the beginningselectrospinning was focused in producing bidimensional structures, nowadays three-dimensionalstructures are also being developed. Besides the progress in theelectrospinning process achieved in the last years, there still remain a numberof challenges, such as mechanical, physical and chemical biomimeticity, poresize enlargement, surface functionalization, therapeutic agents/cells loading, vascularization,and cell infiltration. This chapter reviews on the research advances made in electrospunscaffolds for soft tissue engineering applications focusing on wound dressing, cartilage,muscle, cardiovascular, nerve and skin tissues.