Electrospinning nanofiber scaffolds for soft and hard tissue regeneration

Abstract

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that integrates medical, biological, and engineering expertise to restore or regenerate the functionality of healthy tissues and organs. The three fundamental pillars of tissue engineering are scaffolds, cells, and biomolecules. Electrospun nanofibers have been successfully used as scaffolds for a variety of tissue engineering applications because they are biomimetic of the natural, fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) and contain a three-dimensional (3D) network of interconnected pores. In this review, we provide an overview of the electrospinning process, its principles, and the application of the resultant electrospun nanofibers for tissue engineering. We first briefly introduce the electrospinning process and then cover its principles and standard equipment for biomaterial fabrication. Next, we highlight the most important and recent advances related to the applications of electrospun nanofibers in tissue engineering, including skin, blood vessels, nerves, bone, cartilage, and tendon/ligament applications. Finally, we conclude with current advancements in the fabrication of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds and their biomedical applications in emerging areas.