Implementation of heteroscaled engineering strategies to develop multifunctional hydrogels for biomedical applications

Abstract

Tissue engineering has made substantial progress through material engineering advancements, which focus on maintaining, replacing, reconstructing, and enhancing damaged tissues. Key to this process are functional materials that encapsulate cells and bioactive molecules, aiding tissue regeneration. Scaffolds play a crucial role, mimicking the natural complexity of tissues from nano- to micro-scale and responding to biochemical factors. Hydrogels, with their three-dimensional network structures, replicate the water-abundant environments of real tissues but face limitations due to low mechanical properties and isotropic nature. Recent efforts have focused on creating nanocomposite hydrogels that leverage nanomaterials to enhance properties and introduce new functionalities, showing promise in drug delivery, bioactive molecule delivery, sensors, disease models, and artificial cell culture scaffolds. Electrospinning is a versatile technique for producing nanofibers that closely resemble the natural extracellular matrix. These nanofibers offer benefits such as diverse material choices, versatile topologies, imposed functionalities, and a high surface-to-volume ratio. However, traditional electrospinning methods create dense two-dimensional mats that limit cell and growth media infiltration. Research aims to overcome these limitations by embedding fibers in hydrogels, expanding their use in tissue engineering. This paper reviews the basic concepts of hydrogels and electrospinning, recent advances in nanofiber composite hydrogels, and fabrication methods for electrospun nanofiber hybrid materials, highlighting their unique properties and applications.