Engineering of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds for repairing brain injury

Abstract

Patients with brain injury can suffer disability and accompanying complications. Current clinical treatments have significant limitations to successful repair due to the complexity of the pathological processes and the inhibitory microenvironment that follows brain injury. Here, we conclude recent research progresses in engineering strategies based on electrospun nanofibers for promoting neural repair and functional recovery after brain injury. Firstly, we introduce the main pathological mechanisms of current brain injuries, pointing out the prospect of the application of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds compared to current clinical treatment strategies. We then discuss the repair strategies combining the structure and the morphology of nanofiber scaffolds with load therapeutic factors such as cells, drugs and growth factors. All of these strategies show potential for improving the repair of brain injury. Finally, we point out the challenges facing the effective treatment of brain injury, aiming to provide insights into the development of repairing scaffolds for brain function recovery from the perspective of clinical treatment.

Keywords

• Electrospun nanofibers
• Brain injury
• Engineering strategies
• Neural repair
• Functional recovery