Nanofibrous scaffolds in biomedical applications

Abstract

Nanofibrous scaffolds are artificial extracellular matrices which provide natural environment for tissue formation. In comparison to other forms of scaffolds, the nanofibrous scaffolds promote cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation more efficiently due to having high surface to volume ratio. Although scaffolds for tissue engineering have been fabricated by various techniques but electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have shown great potential in the fields of tissue engineering and regeneration. This review highlights the applications and importance of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds in various fields of biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to wound healing. Attempts have also been made to highlights the advantages and disadvantages of nanofirbous scaffolds fabricated for biomedical applications using technique of electrospinning. The role of various factors controlling drug distribution in electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds is also discussed to increase the therapeutic efficiency of nanofibrous scaffolds in wound healing and drug delivery applications.

Keywords: Bioactive agent; Drug delivery; Electrospinning; Tissue engineering; Wound healing.

Figure 1

An electrospinning setup showing the arrangement for syringe, precursor solution, needle, liquid jet, collector, and power supply.

Figure 2

SEM micrographs of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds using a PHBV/gelatin solution at TFE 6 wt%; (a) 30/70, (b) 50/50, and (c) 70/30 (adapted from reference [127] ).

Figure 3

SEM micrographs of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds using TFE solutions with different amount of PHBV/gelatin (50/50); (a) 2 wt%, (b) 4 wt%, (c) 6 wt%, and (d) 8 wt% (adapted from reference [127] ).

Figure 4

AFM phase images of nanofibrous scaffold surface; (a) PHBV and (b) PHBV–Col (Adapted from reference [128] ).