Electrospinning of in situ synthesized silica-based and calcium phosphate bioceramics for applications in bone tissue engineering: A review

The field of bone tissue engineering (BTE) focuses on the repair of bone defects that are too large to be restored by the natural healing process. To that purpose, synthetic materials mimicking the natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM) are widely studied and many combinations of compositions and architectures are possible. In particular, the electrospinning process can reproduce the fibrillar structure of bone ECM by stretching a viscoelastic solution under an electrical field. With this method, nano/micrometer-sized fibres can be produced, with an adjustable chemical composition. Therefore, by shaping bioactive ceramics such as silica, bioactive glasses and calcium phosphates through electrospinning, promising properties for their use in BTE can be obtained. This review focuses on the in situ synthesis and simultaneous electrospinning of bioceramic-based fibres while the reasons for using each material are correlated with its bioactivity. Theoretical and practical considerations for the synthesis and electrospinning of these materials are developed. Finally, investigations into the in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of different systems using such inorganic fibres are exposed. Statement of significance The field of bone tissue engineering (BTE) focuses on the repair of bones. When the natural healing process is too limited to restore the entire bone loss, bone grafts can be clinically implanted. Since the use of such grafts implies donor site morbidity or a shortage in allograft materials, developing synthetic materials with bone repair potential is of great challenge. The electrospinning process can reproduce the fibrillar structure of bone ECM. Hence, by shaping ceramics such as bioactive glasses and calcium phosphates with this method, promising properties for their use in BTE can be obtained. This review focuses on the in situ synthesis and simultaneous electrospinning of bioceramic-based fibres, comparing their in vitro and in vivo bioactivities. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The field of bone tissue engineering focuses on repairing bone defects that cannot be restored by natural healing, by shaping bioceramic fibers with promising properties for BTE through the electrospinning process.