Biomedical Materials & Nanotechnology

Biopolymer nanofibers are vital for regenerating damaged tissues, serving as porous scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their tunable degradation, mechanical properties, and ability to integrate bioactive agents make them ideal for neural, musculoskeletal, and vascular tissue engineering. In neural tissue engineering, conductive nanofibers promote cell adhesion, migration, and neurotrophic factor expression for enhanced regeneration. For musculoskeletal tissues, biopolymer nanofibers combined with inorganic components support osteoblast differentiation and mechanical strength. In vascular tissue engineering, they facilitate endothelialization and prevent thrombosis in small-diameter grafts. Despite promising results, challenges remain in mechanical stability, degradation rates, and mimicking complex native tissue structures, necessitating further research in crosslinking and surface functionalization.

Wound healing is a complex process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Electrospun biopolymer nanofibers offer unique advantages for wound dressings due to their ECM-like structure, high surface area, and porosity, facilitating oxygen transport, moisture absorption, and cell migration. Natural polymers like chitosan, gelatin, collagen, cellulose, silk fibroin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid provide antibacterial properties, enhance cell adhesion, and promote a moist healing environment. Combining these with synthetic polymers like PLA, PCL, and PVA improves mechanical stability and degradation control. These next-generation dressings address challenges in chronic wounds by supporting tissue regeneration and infection control.

Electrospun nanofibers are being developed into smart, multifunctional biomedical platforms, including stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems, biosensors, wearable devices, and theranostics. Stimuli-responsive systems enable targeted drug release activated by internal (pH, ROS) or external (light, temperature) cues. Biosensors leverage high surface area and controllable chemistry for sensitive detection of biomolecules and pathogens. Wearable devices, integrating flexible nanofibers, monitor physiological parameters like heart rate, respiration, and movement, facilitating personalized healthcare and telemedicine. Theranostic platforms combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions, such as magnetic hyperthermia or photodynamic therapy for cancer and wound infections, offering real-time monitoring and targeted treatment.

Integrating electrospinning with 3D printing offers superior control over 3D nanofiber structure, porosity, and mechanical properties, allowing for customized scaffolds in skin, cartilage, and bone tissue engineering. Layer-by-layer assembly of electrospun nanofibers onto 3D-printed structures enhances mechanical performance and fiber-matrix infiltration. While electrospinning excels in producing ultrafine, ECM-mimicking fibers, 3D printing provides macroscopic geometric precision, addressing limitations in fiber alignment. This hybrid approach enables the creation of multifunctional materials with controlled architectures, bridging the gap between nanoscale functionality and macro-scale structural integrity for advanced biomedical devices. However, scalability and clinical translation remain challenges.