Synthetic-based blended electrospun scaffolds in tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Electrospinning, as one of the most common methodologies in nanofibers production, involves applying high voltages to a polymeric solution that is entrapped in a syringe to obtain biomimetic nanofibrous constructs. These microstructures may render resemblance to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and be used as a tissue engineering scaffold. The electrospun scaffolds can provide properties commensurate with the intended tissue, to be employed as a potential substitute for cell stroma and/or drug delivery applications. It seems that polymeric nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds are to meet indispensable requirements to support cells to grow, proliferate and differentiate; it is mostly because of interconnected porous architecture and tunable mechanical backup. Despite their wide diversity, synthetic polymers individually do not provide enough amenities for tissue regeneration and thus need to be blended with other biological macromolecules and polymeric biomaterials. This review will discuss recent decades' pieces of literature on blend biopolymeric nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds in tissue repair and regeneration.