Nanofibers from polyhydroxyalkanoates and their applications in tissue engineering

Abstract

Nanofibers are one-dimensional nanomaterials with a host of research and commercial applications. They possess exceptional physicochemical characteristics with fiber diameter ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers. They have large surface area-to-volume ratio and can form highly porous interconnecting network. Natural, synthetic, carbon-based, semiconducting, and composite/blend polymers have been used to synthesize them. By virtue of their special properties like lower acidity and bioactivity, non-toxic degradation, biocompatibility, tunable surface modifications, wide ranging mechano-physico-chemical characteristics, and non-carcinogenicity, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have emerged as a potential candidate in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine combines biological systems with engineering expertise, to restore the healthy functions at cellular levels. Their system development is based on cells, biomolecules, and biomaterials. Fabrication of nanofibrous 2D and 3D scaffolds have revolutionised the field of tissue engineering with the development of skin grafts, vascular grafts, bone implants and corneal tissue replacements. Research on fabrication of scaffolds and biodegradable polymers/ blends required for fabrication is on a rise with their ever-increasing applications.