http://nathan.instras.com/ResearchProposalDB/doc-109.pdf

A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites

New generations of synthetic biomaterials are being developed at a rapid pace for use as three-dimensional extracellular microenvironments to mimic the regulatory characteristics of natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) and ECM-bound growth factors, both for therapeutic applications and basic biological studies. Recent advances include nanofibrillar networks formed by self-assembly of small building blocks, artificial ECM networks from protein polymers or peptide-conjugated synthetic polymers that present bioactive ligands and respond to cell-secreted signals to enable proteolytic remodeling. These materials have already found application in differentiating stem cells into neurons, repairing bone and inducing angiogenesis. Although modern synthetic biomaterials represent oversimplified mimics of natural ECMs lacking the essential natural temporal and spatial complexity, a growing symbiosis of materials engineering and cell biology may ultimately result in synthetic materials that contain the necessary signals to recapitulate developmental processes in tissue- and organ-specific differentiation and morphogenesis.

https://sisu.ut.ee/sites/default/files/quantum/files/synthetic_biomaterials_as_instructive_extracellular_microenvironments_for_morphogenesis_in_tissue_engineering_lutolf_m.p_hubbell_j.a_2005_0.pdf

Synthetic biomaterials as instructive extracellular microenvironments for morphogenesis in tissue engineering

Electrospinning: a fascinating fiber fabrication technique.

Electrospinning is a highly versatile method to process solutions or melts, mainly of polymers, into continuous fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to a few nanometers. This technique is applicable to virtually every soluble or fusible polymer. The polymers can be chemically modified and can also be tailored with additives ranging from simple carbon-black particles to complex species such as enzymes, viruses, and bacteria. Electrospinning appears to be straightforward, but is a rather intricate process that depends on a multitude of molecular, process, and technical parameters. The method provides access to entirely new materials, which may have complex chemical structures. Electrospinning is not only a focus of intense academic investigation; the technique is already being applied in many technological areas.

Electrospinning: A Fascinating Method for the Preparation of Ultrathin Fibers

http://orion.bme.columbia.edu/lulab/pdf/Altman_Silk-Based-Biomaterials_2003.pdf

Silk-based biomaterials

Electrospinning of collagen nanofibers.

Significant challenges must be overcome before the true benefit and economic impact of vascular tissue engineering can be fully realized. Toward that end, we have pioneered the electrospinning of micro- and nano-fibrous scaffoldings from the natural polymers collagen and elastin and applied these to development of biomimicking vascular tissue engineered constructs. The vascular wall composition and structure is highly intricate and imparts unique biomechanical properties that challenge the development of a living tissue engineered vascular replacement that can withstand the high pressure and pulsatile environment of the bloodstream. The potential of the novel scaffold presented here for the development of a viable vascular prosthetic meets these stringent requirements in that it can replicate the complex architecture of the blood vessel wall. This replication potential creates an "ideal" environment for subsequent in vitro development of a vascular replacement. The research presented herein provides preliminary data toward the development of electrospun collagen and elastin tissue engineering scaffolds for the development of a three layer vascular construct.

Electrospinning collagen and elastin: preliminary vascular tissue engineering.

Electrospinning of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) fibers.

The invention is directed to formation and use of electroprocessed collagen, including use as an extracellular matrix and, together with cells, its use in forming engineered tissue. The engineered tissue can include the synthetic manufacture of specific organs or tissues which may be implanted into a recipient. The electroprocessed collagen may also be combined with other molecules in order to deliver substances to the site of application or implantation of the electroprocessed collagen. The collagen or collagen/cell suspension is electrodeposited onto a substrate to form tissues and organs.

Electroprocessed Collagen and Tissue Engineering

Collagen is the natural scaffolding found in all tissues and has been explored extensively for use as a tissue engineering scaffold with limited success. In this feasibility study, the electrospinning of collagen type II and subsequent chondrocyte seeding was investigated for potential use in cartilage tissue engineering. The electrospinning process utilized lyophilized, chicken sternal cartilage collagen type II suspended in 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexaflouro-2-propanol and demonstrated that collagen type II could be electrospun to form nonwoven fibrous mats composed of type II fibers that ranged from 110 nm to 1.8μm in diameter. The fiber diameter was dependant on the type II concentration in solution with a higher concentration producing the larger diameters. The preliminary chondrocyte seeding study demonstrated that electrospun collagen type II scaffolds support cell growth and are readily infiltrated. In conclusion, the feasibility of collagen type II electrospinning has been demonstrated and the novel scaffold...

Jamil A. Matthews

Papers

Electrospinning of collagen nanofibers.

Electrospinning collagen and elastin: preliminary vascular tissue engineering.

Electrospinning of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) fibers.

Electroprocessed Collagen and Tissue Engineering

Electrospinning of Collagen Type II: A Feasibility Study