Tissue engineering with nano-fibrous scaffolds

Abstract

Tissue engineering is a rapidly evolving field in terms of cell source and scaffold fabrication. As the template for three dimensional tissue growth, the scaffold should emulate the native extracellular matrix, which is nano-fibrous. Currently, there are three basic techniques capable of generating nano-fibrous scaffolding: electrospinning, molecular self-assembly, and thermally induced phase separation. These scaffolds can then be further modified by various three dimensional surface modification techniques if necessary to more precisely emulate the native extracellular matrix. However, even without further modification, nano-fibrous scaffolds have been shown to have advantageous effects on cellular behavior and tissue formation when compared to more traditional types of scaffolding. This review focuses on the current state of tissue engineering with nano-fibrous scaffolding with particular emphasis on bone tissue engineering.