Cartilage tissue engineering using electrospun PCL nanofiber meshes and MSCs

Nanofibrous scaffolds for dental and craniofacial applications

Tissue-engineering solutions often harness biomimetic materials to support cells for functional tissue regeneration. Three-dimensional scaffolds can create a multi-scale environment capable of facilitating cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. One such multi-scale scaffold incorporates nanofibrous features to mimic the extracellular matrix along with a porous network for the regeneration of a variety of tissues. This review will discuss nanofibrous scaffold synthesis/fabrication, biological effects of nanofibers, their tissue- engineering applications in bone, cartilage, enamel, dentin, and periodontium, patient-specific scaffolds, and incorporated growth factor delivery systems. Nanofibrous scaffolds cannot only further the field of craniofacial regeneration but also advance technology for tissue-engineered replacements in many physiological systems.

Stem cell-biomaterial interactions for regenerative medicine

The synergism of stem cell biology and biomaterial technology promises to have a profound impact on stem-cell-based clinical applications for tissue regeneration. Biomaterials development is rapidly advancing to display properties that, in a precise and physiological fashion, could drive stem-cell fate both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the design of novel materials is trying to recapitulate the molecular events involved in the production, clearance and interaction of molecules within tissue in pathologic conditions and regeneration of tissue/organs. In this review we will report on the challenges behind translating stem cell biology and biomaterial innovations into novel clinical therapeutic applications for tissue and organ replacements (graphical abstract).