Electrospinning: applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrospinning, a polymer processing technique, has seen renewed interest in the last 5-10 years for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.
• Its resurgence is due to ease of use, adaptability, and fabrication of nano-scale fibers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements and state-of-the-art applications of electrospinning in tissue engineering and drug delivery.
• To highlight the capabilities of electrospinning in creating biomimetic scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of scaffolds with micro to nanoscale topography and high porosity using electrospinning.
• Utilizing various materials including biodegradable, non-degradable, and natural polymers.
• Incorporation of diverse therapeutic agents (drugs, proteins, DNA, RNA) and even living cells into scaffolds.

Main Results:

• Electrospun scaffolds exhibit high surface-to-volume ratios, enhancing cell attachment, drug loading, and mass transfer.
• Fibers can be oriented or randomly arranged, allowing control over mechanical properties and biological response.
• Successful electrospinning of living cells opens new avenues for regenerative medicine.

Conclusions:

• Electrospinning offers a versatile platform for developing advanced scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
• The technique's ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and incorporate various payloads makes it highly promising.
• The applications are vast, ranging from regenerative medicine to targeted therapeutic agent delivery.