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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffolds with Gradations in Fiber Organization
Published on: April 19, 2015
Nanofibers as Bioinstructive Scaffolds Capable of Modulating Differentiation through Mechanosensitive Pathways for
Daniel T Bowers1, Justin L Brown1
1Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Abstract:
Bioinstructive scaffolds encode information in the physical shape and size of materials to direct cell responses. Electrospinning nanofibers is a process that offers control over scaffold architecture and fiber diameter, while providing extended linear length of fibers. This review summarizes tissue engineering literature that has utilized nanofiber scaffolds to direct stem cell differentiation for various tissues including musculoskeletal, vascular, immunological and nervous system tissues. Nanofibers are also considered for their extracellular matrix mimetic characteristics that can preserve stem cell differentiation capacity. These topics are considered in the context of focal adhesion and integrin signaling. Regenerative engineering will be enhanced by construction of scaffolds encoded with shape information to cause an attached cell to create the intended tissue at that region. Nanofibers are likely to be a bioinstructive scaffold in future regenerative engineering development as we pursue the Grand Challenges of engineering tissues.
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