Electrospun materials as potential platforms for bone tissue engineering

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2009 Oct 5;61(12):1065-83. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2009.07.008. Epub 2009 Jul 29.

Abstract

Nanofibrous materials produced by electrospinning processes have attracted considerable interest in tissue regeneration, including bone reconstruction. A range of novel materials and processing tools have been developed to mimic the native bone extracellular matrix for potential applications as tissue engineering scaffolds and ultimately to restore degenerated functions of the bone. Degradable polymers, bioactive inorganics and their nanocomposites/hybrids nanofibers with suitable mechanical properties and bone bioactivity for osteoblasts and progenitor/stem cells have been produced. The surface functionalization with apatite minerals and proteins/peptides as well as drug encapsulation within the nanofibers is a promising strategy for achieving therapeutic functions with nanofibrous materials. Recent attempts to endow a 3D scaffolding technique to the electrospinning regime have shown some promise for engineering 3D tissue constructs. With the improvement in knowledge and techniques of bone-targeted nanofibrous matrices, bone tissue engineering is expected to be realized in the near future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Substitutes / chemistry*
  • Bone and Bones / cytology
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Electrochemistry
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / physiology
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

  • Bone Substitutes
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins