Advancing electrospinning towards the future of biomaterials in biomedical engineering

Abstract

Biomaterial is a material designed to take a form that can direct, through interactions with living systems, the course of any therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. Growing demand for improved and affordable healthcare treatments and unmet clinical needs seek further advancement of biomaterials. Over the past 25 years, the electrospinning method has been innovated to enhance biomaterials at nanometer and micrometer length scales for diverse healthcare applications. Recent developments include intelligent (smart) biomaterials and sustainable biomaterials. Intelligent materials can sense, adapt to and respond to external stimuli, autonomously adjusting to enhance functionality and performance. Sustainable biomaterials possess several key characteristics, including renewability, a low carbon footprint, circularity, durability, biocompatibility, biodegradability and others. Herein, advances in electrospun biomaterials, encompassing process innovations, working principles and the effects of process variables, are presented succinctly. The potential of electrospun intelligent biomaterials and sustainable biomaterials in specific biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems, brain-computer interfaces, biosensors, personal protective equipment and wearable devices, is explored. More effective healthcare demands further advancements in electrospun biomaterials. In the future, the distinctive characteristics of intelligent biomaterials and sustainable biomaterials, integrated with various emerging technologies (such as AI and data transmission), will enable physicians to conduct remote diagnosis and treatment. This advancement significantly enhances telemedicine capabilities for more accurate disease prediction and management.