Electrospun plant-derived natural biomaterials for Tissue engineering

Plant-derived natural products are being used in medicine, and they are easily available for the production and use in tissue engineering based biological applications. Utilization of plant materials to treat human diseases is a common practice followed over many decades. In fact plant and its derivatives have been actively included in health management over thousands of years. The advent of phytochemical and phytopharmacological sciences has opened an arena to elucidate the structural and biological composition of several medicinal plant products. Their pharmacological effects depend on the supply of highly active water soluble compounds; however, due to their large molecular size most compounds are unable to cross the lipid membranes of the cells and therefore result in poor absorption resulting in loss of bioavailability and efficacy. Electrospinning makes it possible to combine the advantages of utilizing these plant materials in the form of nanofibrous scaffolds for delivering the active constituent at a sufficient concentration during the entire treatment period to the host site. The aim of this review is to highlight the potential applications of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds based systems and herbal medicines in tissue engineering.