Micropatterned Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Electrospun nanofibers are widely used for tissue engineering because they mimic the extracellular matrix and provide a favorable environment for cell growth. However, conventional nanofibrous scaffolds offer limited control over the spatial organization of cells and biomolecules. To address this challenge, we developed micropatterned nanofibrous scaffolds by integrating electrospinning with hydrogel photolithography, enabling precise control of scaffold architecture and biochemical functionality.

The hybrid scaffolds allow selective incorporation of hydrogel microstructures into nanofibrous matrices, providing spatially defined environments for cell adhesion, protein immobilization, and growth factor delivery. This platform supports programmable release of bioactive molecules and can be adapted for various biomedical applications.

This presentation highlights the application of these scaffolds to tissue engineering, particularly salivary gland regeneration. Micropatterned nanofibrous scaffolds promote the formation of uniform epithelial cell spheroids, enhance cell viability and differentiation, and improve the expression of salivary gland-specific markers. In addition, multilayered fibrous scaffolds capable of sequential growth factor release are introduced as an effective strategy for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Overall, the combination of electrospinning and hydrogel micropatterning provides a versatile platform for engineering biomimetic scaffolds with controlled structural and biological properties, offering significant potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.