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

Abstract

Bioresorbable micro/nanofiber-based structures are being studied as promising candidates for tissue engineering applications. Among the existing techniques for producing these matrices, electrospinning has attracted interest in many technological fields as a versatile and powerful processing technique. Electrospun micro/nanofibers possess high surface-area-to-volume ratio, high porosity and pore interconnectivity, and tunable fiber morphology and orientation. Moreover, submicron fibers are found in the extracellular matrix of natural organs and tissues. 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 beginning electrospinning was focused in producing two-dimensional structures, nowadays three-dimensional structures are also being developed. Besides the progress in the electrospinning process achieved in recent years, there still remain a number of challenges, such as mechanical, physical, and chemical biomimeticity, pore size enlargement, surface functionalization, therapeutic agent/cell loading, vascularization, and cell infiltration. This chapter reviews the research advances made in electrospun scaffolds for soft tissue engineering applications focusing on wound dressing, cartilage, muscle, cardiovascular, nerve, and skin tissues.