Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 13.7.
Potential applications of nanofi bers using the electrospinning technique.
nanofi bers, the discussion in this chapter is restricted to tissue engineering appli-
cations only, more specifi cally musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
13.4 POLYMERS USED FOR SYNTHESIZING NANOFIBROUS
STRUCTURES USING THE ELECTROSPINNING TECHNIQUE
Instead of implanting permanent non-biodegradable devices within the body,
there is a growing need to explore biodegradable implants that would coax the
body for self repair/to regenerate. One of the main strategies in this direction
is tissue engineering that involves the application of polymeric biomaterials,
both biodegradable as well as non-biodegradable, as scaffolding systems.
Degradation of polymeric devices (mainly by hydrolytic and enzymatic means)
can be manipulated to match the regeneration rate of the specifi c tissue based on
the rate of ECM generation of that tissue. This section discusses various polymers
under the broad category of natural, that is, biologically derived and synthetic
polymers.
13.4.1 Natural Polymers
There is a rapid increase in the use of natural polymers to make nanofi brous scaf-
folds. Natural polymers that have been used for scaffolding applications are either
constituents of ECM or the chemical/physical mimics of ECM components that
have been extracted from other living forms. ECM constituents have innate infor-
mation for cell guidance, and thus can be advantageous if fabricated into nanofi -
brous scaffolds by electrospinning. Natural polymers have the advantage of being
hydrophilic, biocompatible, with their degradation products being easily metabo-
lized in the body. In addition, natural polymers have been demonstrated to
enhance cell interaction and proliferation [112]. Therefore, natural polymers
have been explored for the synthesis of nanofi ber-based scaffolds for tissue
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