Functionalized Nanofibers as Drug-Delivery Systems for Osteochondral Regeneration

Abstract

A wide range of drug-delivery systems are currently attracting the attention of researchers. Nanofibers are very interesting carriers for drug delivery. This is because nanofibers are versatile, flexible, nanobiomimetic and similar to extracellular matrix components, possible to be functionalized both on their surface as well as in their core, and also because they can be produced easily and cost effectively. There have been increasing attempts to use nanofibers in the construction of a range of tissues, including cartilage and bone. Nanofibers have also been favorably engaged as a drug-delivery system in cell-free scaffolds. This short overview is devoted to current applications and to further perspectives of nanofibers as drug-delivery devices in the field of cartilage and bone regeneration, and also in osteochondral reconstruction.

Keywords::

• bone
• cartilage
• drug delivery
• electrospinning
• liposome
• nanofiber

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Institutional Research Plan AV0Z50390703), from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (grant no. NT12156), by the project 'CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology' (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068) from the European Regional Development Fund and GAUK (student grant nos. 626012, 384311, 545313, 424213, 270513, ESF CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0092), and from UCEEB support IPv6, which have provided support for some of the work discussed here. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in, or in financial conflict with, the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript (apart from those disclosed).

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Institutional Research Plan AV0Z50390703), from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (grant no. NT12156), by the project 'CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology' (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068) from the European Regional Development Fund and GAUK (student grant nos. 626012, 384311, 545313, 424213, 270513, ESF CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0092), and from UCEEB support IPv6, which have provided support for some of the work discussed here. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in, or in financial conflict with, the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript (apart from those disclosed).