Abstract
The development of smart and intelligent regenerative biomaterials for skeletal muscle tissue engineering is an ongoing challenge, owing to the requirement of achieving biomimetic systems able to communicate biological signals and thus promote optimal tissue regeneration. Electrospinning is a well-known technique to produce fibers that mimic the three dimensional microstructural arrangements, down to nanoscale and the properties of the extracellular matrix fibers. Natural and synthetic polymers are used in the electrospinning process; moreover, a blend of them provides composite materials that have demonstrated the potential advantage of supporting cell function and adhesion. Recently, the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), which is the noncellular component of tissue that retains relevant biological cues for cells, has been evaluated as a starting biomaterial to realize composite electrospun constructs. The properties of the electrospun systems can be further improved with innovative procedures of functionalization with biomolecules. Among the various approaches, great attention is devoted to the “click” concept in constructing a bioactive system, due to the modularity, orthogonality, and simplicity features of the “click” reactions. In this paper, we first provide an overview of current approaches that can be used to obtain biofunctional composite electrospun biomaterials. Finally, we propose a design of composite electrospun biomaterials suitable for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration.
Highlights
Biomaterials play a prominent role in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (TE) through the development of functional systems to improve or restore biological functions of damaged tissues
The biofunctionalization of the surface scaffold by click chemistry will assure cell adhesion and interaction, and the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based core will assure an appropriate microenvironment for cell activity enabling skeletal muscle regeneration
Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique to produce polymeric fibrous scaffolds that are capable of mimicking the structure of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) for a range of tissue engineering applications
Summary
Biomaterials play a prominent role in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (TE) through the development of functional systems to improve or restore biological functions of damaged tissues. GAG concentrations are especially important for their interaction with growth factors and chemokines, influencing cell signaling [28] To overcome these obstacles, some authors are developing ad hoc decellurization protocols for specific tissues and the optimization of subsequent dECM process methods with the aim of avoiding the loss of some important bioactive components of the native ECM [29,30]. Some authors are developing ad hoc decellurization protocols for specific tissues and the optimization of subsequent dECM process methods with the aim of avoiding the loss of some important bioactive components of the native ECM [29,30] Another effective way to ensure the bioactivity of the electrospun scaffolds is the judicious combination of electrospun fibers with appropriate biomolecules, such as small molecules, growth factors, short peptides, or proteins [31], in order to stimulate a specific cell response. It is worth noting from a manufacturing standpoint that the electrospinning of natural polymers is very often possible with water-based recipes and with minimal or no recourse to organic solvent, which is a definitive advantage in the ongoing societal transition to green chemistry and circular economy [40] and is only possible with a handful of synthetic counterparts (e.g., PEO, PVOH)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
