title: Electrospinning of Bioinspired Polymer Scaffolds.
abstract: Electrospinning is a technique used in the production of polymer nanofibre meshes. The use of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers to produce nanofibres that closely mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of different tissues has opened a wide range of possibilities for the application of electrospinning in Tissue Engineering. It is believed that nano-features (such as voids and surface cues) present in nanofibre mesh scaffolds, combined with the chemical composition of the fibres, can stimulate cell attachment, growth and differentiation. Despite the widespread use of electrospun nanofibres in tissue engineering, the present chapter will focus on the advances made in the utilisation of these materials in bone, cartilage and tooth related applications. Several aspects will be taken into consideration, namely the choice of polymers, the surface modification of the nanofibres in order to achieve mineralisation, and also the biological application of such materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, Cambridgeshire, UK. jose.araujo@cantab.net.
authors.forename: Jose V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Vasco da Gama University School, Av. Jose R. Sousa Fernandes 197, Lordemao, 3020-210, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, Cambridgeshire, UK.
authors.forename: Serena M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Best
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000378:metabolism*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008903:Minerals; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Biofabrication; Bone regeneration; Electrospinning; Nanofibers; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering