Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Tissue Engineering and Cell Growth

Ewin Tanzli,Andrea Ehrmann

doi:10.3390/app11156929

Abstract

In biotechnology, the field of cell cultivation is highly relevant. Cultivated cells can be used, for example, for the development of biopharmaceuticals and in tissue engineering. Commonly, mammalian cells are grown in bioreactors, T-flasks, well plates, etc., without a specific substrate. Nanofibrous mats, however, have been reported to promote cell growth, adhesion, and proliferation. Here, we give an overview of the different attempts at cultivating mammalian cells on electrospun nanofiber mats for biotechnological and biomedical purposes. Starting with a brief overview of the different electrospinning methods, resulting in random or defined fiber orientations in the nanofiber mats, we describe the typical materials used in cell growth applications in biotechnology and tissue engineering. The influence of using different surface morphologies and polymers or polymer blends on the possible application of such nanofiber mats for tissue engineering and other biotechnological applications is discussed. Polymer blends, in particular, can often be used to reach the required combination of mechanical and biological properties, making such nanofiber mats highly suitable for tissue engineering and other biotechnological or biomedical cell growth applications.

Highlights

Starting with a brief overview of the different electrospinning methods, resulting in random or defined fiber orientations in the nanofiber mats, we describe the typical materials used in cell growth applications in biotechnology and tissue engineering
Tissue engineering often necessitates 3D substrates, which cannot be reached by bioreactors or T-flasks, while nanofiber mats can be draped according to the requirements of an experiment
By integrating other materials and shapes, e.g., electrospun nanofiber mats, new possibilities are opened for faster or more directed cell growth and higher cell differentiation, etc. This is why many research groups investigate the possibility of preparing such nanostructured substrates for tissue engineering and other biomedical and biotechnological applications, in which flexible substrate shapes have to be combined with high stem cell differentiation or the good adhesion and proliferation of mammalian cells

Summary

Introduction

Tissue engineering often necessitates 3D substrates, which cannot be reached by bioreactors or T-flasks, while nanofiber mats can be draped according to the requirements of an experiment. Such nanofiber mats can be produced by electrospinning from various polymers and polymer blends, as well as polymers with nanoparticles included [10,11,12]. With electrospinning techniques being developed further, nanofiber mats have been increasingly used for biotechnological applications, including cell cultivation [13,14,15,16]. Cells, which are often used for experiments in such cell cultures, for the production of therapeutic proteins, and as model cells for biotechnological studies [21,22,23]

Electrospinning

Materials for Tissue Engineering and Cell Growth Experiments

Gelatin and Collagen

Chitosan and Chitin

Polyurethane

10. Conclusions