CHAPTER 14: Smart Nanofibrous Materials for Tissue Engineering
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Published:13 Dec 2016
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Special Collection: 2016 ebook collection
G. S. Offeddu and M. L. Oyen, in Smart Materials for Tissue Engineering: Fundamental Principles, ed. Q. Wang and Q. Wang, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016, pp. 401-417.
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Nanofibrous tissue engineering scaffolds present cells with a morphology that mimics the natural extra-cellular matrix to aid biocompatibility. The incorporation of smart responses into the scaffolds results in the delivery of stimuli at the scale of single cells, facilitated by the large surface area of the fibrous mesh. The vast range of stimuli provided by polymers fashioned into nanofibers makes it possible to control the chemical and physical signals received by the cells in the scaffold, well after its implantation into the patient's body. Ultimately, this will aid in bridging the gap between research and the clinic, making tissue engineering a viable strategy for the treatment of conditions that are as yet unresolved.