Multiscale Fibrous Scaffolds in Regenerative Medicine, by Sowmya Srinivasan, R. Jayakumar, K. P. Chennazhi, Erica J. Levorson, Antonios G. Mikos and Shantikumar V. Nair; Stem Cells and Nanostructures for Advanced Tissue Regeneration, by Molamma P. Prabhakaran, J. Venugopal, Laleh Ghasemi-Mobarakeh, Dan Kai Guorui Jin and Seeram Ramakrishna; Creating Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Biomimetic Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration, by Eleni Katsanevakis, Xuejun Wen and Ning Zhang; Synthetic/Biopolymer Nanofibrous Composites as Dynamic Tissue Engineering Scaffolds, by J. A. Kluge and R. L. Mauck; Electrospun Fibers as Substrates for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, by Jörg Mey, Gary Brook, Dorothée Hodde and Andreas Kriebel; Highly Aligned Polymer Nanofiber Structures: Fabrication and Applications in Tissue Engineering, by Vince Beachley, Eleni Katsanevakis, Ning Zhang, Xuejun Wen; Electrospinning of Biocompatible Polymers and Their Potentials in Biomedical Applications, by Pitt Supaphol, Orawan Suwantong, Pakakrong Sangsanoh, Sowmya Srinivasan, Rangasamy Jayakumar and Shantikumar V. Nair; Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds-Current Status and Prospects in Drug Delivery, by M. Prabaharan, R. Jayakumar and S. V. Nair.; Biomedical Applications of Polymer/Silver Composite Nanofibers, by R. Jayakumar, M. Prabaharan, K. T. Shalumon, K. P. Chennazhi and S. V. Nair.-

Polymeric Nanofibers will showcase recent developments in the production, characterization, and emerging use of nanofibers made from different polymers for a variety of purposes. Although it has been difficult to produce polymer fibers in the laboratory, electrospinning now makes it easier. Electrospinning, an electrohydrodynamical process for making thin polymer fibers with diameters in the range from around one nanometer to several thousands of nanometers, is simple and cost effective. Interest in other specialized routes to polymer nanofibers, including chemical synthesis, conventional textile fiber spinning, gas blowing, and other methods has been stimulated by the recent progress in electrospinning. Scientists and engineers in fields such as filtration, biomaterials, biomedical devices, chemical analysis, catalysis, aerospace, fiber reinforced composites, energy conversion, protective clothing, agriculture, and others can produce experimental quantities of nanofibers in their own laboratories, from a wide variety of polymers of interest to them. The number of papers and patents in electrospinning has grown at a rapid rate during the past decade, more than doubling each year since 1999.

With its content taken from only the very latest results, this is an extensive summary of the various polymeric materials used for biomedical applications. Following an introduction listing various functional polymers, including conductive, biocompatible and conjugated polymers, the book goes on to discuss different synthetic polymers that can be used, for example, as hydrogels, biochemical sensors, functional surfaces, and natural degradable materials. Throughout, the focus is on applications, with worked examples for training purposes as well as case studies included. The whole is rounded off with a look at future trends.

Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications addresses the challenges researchers face regarding the creation of nanostructured polymer composites that not only have superior performance and mechanical properties, but also have acceptable biological function. This book discusses current efforts to meet this challenge by discussing the multidisciplinary nature of nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials from various fields, including materials science, polymer science, biomedical engineering and biomedicine. This compilation of existing knowledge will lead to the generation of new terminology and definitions across individual disciplines. As such, this book will help researchers and engineers develop new products and devices for use in effective medical treatment. Summarizes the most recent strategies to develop nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials for biomedicine Outlines the major preparation and characterization techniques for a range of polymer nanocomposites used in biomedicine Explores the design of new types of nanostructured polymer composites for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, gene therapy and bone replacement

Electrospun Nanofibers covers advances in the electrospinning process including characterization, testing and modeling of electrospun nanofibers, and electrospinning for particular fiber types and applications. Electrospun Nanofibers offers systematic and comprehensive coverage for academic researchers, industry professionals, and postgraduate students working in the field of fiber science. Electrospinning is the most commercially successful process for the production of nanofibers and rising demand is driving research and development in this field. Rapid progress is being made both in terms of the electrospinning process and in the production of nanofibers with superior chemical and physical properties. Electrospinning is becoming more efficient and more specialized in order to produce particular fiber types such as bicomponent and composite fibers, patterned and 3D nanofibers, carbon nanofibers and nanotubes, and nanofibers derived from chitosan. - Provides systematic and comprehensive coverage of the manufacture, properties, and applications of nanofibers - Covers recent developments in nanofibers materials including electrospinning of bicomponent, chitosan, carbon, and conductive fibers - Brings together expertise from academia and industry to provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on nanofiber research and development - Offers systematic and comprehensive coverage for academic researchers, industry professionals, and postgraduate students working in the field of fiber science

This book focuses on the nanofiber membrane’s fabrication, characterization, and performance for medical, environment and energy applications. Topics include polymer, inorganic and composite-form nanofiber membrane materials. Top Research teams from varied disciplines and continents outline applied nanofiber membrane fabrication techniques and characterizations. Promising nanofiber membranes for improving and enhancing technologies used in drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, water and wastewater treatment and purification, gas separation and purification, air purification, and fuel cells are discussed along with the likely path forward for commercial usage. Key Features: Shares the most recent discovery solutions from experts all over the globe for the numerous problems in medical, environmental and energy applications. Provides a holistic cycle of nanofiber membrane development which comprehensively discusses the membrane preparation, characterizations, performance and the way forward for a specific process and application. Explains the mechanism of separation and purification. Focuses on the nanofiber membrane’s fabrication, characterizations, and performance in various scenarios and commercial applications.

This is a timely, an informative, an interesting, and a well-managed book. The book not only offers an in-depth review of the current status of the knowledge of electrospinning and its biomedical applications but also discusses the emerging ideas and features, both from the East and West, with a focus on the needless electrospinning for the production of uniform fibers. The book is equally helpful to the experts of this field, who wish to enhance their understanding of the emerging technologies, and to the new comers, who can use this book as a reference.

Polymers from natural sources are particularly useful as biomaterials and in regenerative medicine, given their similarity to the extracellular matrix and other polymers in the human body. This important book reviews the wealth of research on both tried and promising new natural-based biomedical polymers, together with their applications as implantable biomaterials, controlled-release carriers or scaffolds for tissue engineering.The first part of the book reviews the sources, processing and properties of natural-based polymers for biomedical applications. Part two describes how the surfaces of polymer-based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality. The third part of the book discusses the use of natural-based polymers for biodegradable scaffolds and hydrogels in tissue engineering. Building on this foundation, Part four looks at the particular use of natural-gelling polymers for encapsulation, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The penultimate group of chapters reviews the use of natural-based polymers as delivery systems for drugs, hormones, enzymes and growth factors. The final part of the book summarises research on the key issue of biocompatibility.Natural-based polymers for biomedical applications is a standard reference for biomedical engineers, those studying and researching in this important area, and the medical community. - Examines the sources, processing and properties of natural based polymers for biomedical applications - Explains how the surfaces of polymer based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality - Discusses the use of natural based polymers for hydrogels in tissue engineering, and in particular natural gelling polymers for encapsulation and regenerative medicine

This book presents a thorough discussion of the physics, biology, chemistry and medicinal science behind a new and important area of materials science and engineering: polymer nanocomposites. The tremendous opportunities of polymer nanocomposites in the biomedical field arise from their multitude of applications and their ability to satisfy the vastly different functional requirements for each of these applications. In the biomedical field, a polymer nanocomposite system must meet certain design and functional criteria, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, and, in some cases, aesthetic demands. The content of this book builds on what has been learnt in elementary courses about synthesising polymers, different nanoparticles, polymer composites, biomedical requirements, uses of polymer nanocomposites in medicine as well as medical devices and the major mechanisms involved during each application. The impact of hybrid nanofillers and synergistic composite mixtures which are used extensively or show promising outcomes in the biomedical field are also discussed. These novel materials vary from inorganic/ceramic-reinforced nanocomposites for mechanical property improvement to peptide-based nanomaterials, with the chemistry designed to render the entire material biocompatible.

This Handbook covers all aspects related to Nanofibers, from the experimental set-up for their fabrication to their potential industrial applications. It describes several kinds of nanostructured fibers such as metal oxides, natural polymers, synthetic polymers and hybrid inorganic-polymers or carbon-based materials. The first part of the Handbook covers the fundamental aspects, experimental setup, synthesis, properties and physico-chemical characterization of nanofibers. Specifically, this part details the history of nanofibers, different techniques to design nanofibers, self-assembly in nanofibers, critical parameters of synthesis, fiber alignment, modeling and simulation, types and classifications of nanofibers, and signature physical and chemical properties (i.e. mechanical, electrical, optical and magnetic), toxicity and regulations, bulk and surface functionalization and other treatments to allow them to a practical use. Characterization methods are also deeply discussed here. The second part of the Handbook deals with global markets and technologies and emerging applications of nanofibers, such as in energy production and storage, aerospace, automotive, sensors, smart textile design, energy conversion, tissue engineering, medical implants, pharmacy and cosmetics. Attention is given to the future of research in these areas in order to improve and spread the applications of nanofibers and their commercialization.