Cellulose-Containing Scaffolds Fabricated by Electrospinning: Applications in Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery

Abstract

Cellulose is a renewable material which has the advantages of being low cost, eco-friendly, biodegradable, and nontoxic. This polymer has demonstrated excellent properties for the design of scaffolds with promising applications in tissue engineering, food technology, and in the controlled delivery of drugs. The current chapter presents recent advances in the development of scaffolds based on cellulose or cellulose/polymer blends by electrospinning. The effects of the parameters involved in the fabrication process (e.g., properties of the solution, process variables, and ambient conditions) on the morphology, the diameter, the surface, and the homogeneity of the cellulose-containing nanofibers will be presented. Moreover, an overview of potential applications for electrospun scaffolds in both tissue regeneration and controlled delivery of drugs will be discussed.