Biomedical Applications of Fibers Produced by Electrospinning, Microfluidic Spinning and Combinations of Both

Electrospinning and microfluidic spinning are two fascinating techniques used in the production of microand/

or nano-fiber meshes with possible application in many scientific areas. Their ability to mimic the

extracellular matrix of many tissues, high surface area, and porosity, and even their ability to create

different fibrous structures according to their target application, justify their interest in the biomedical

field. In this review, we present a detailed overview of two fiber processing methodologies—

electrospinning and microfluidic spinning. The basic set-ups, the functional control of the process, the different types of fibers morphology and structures obtained, and their applications (more specifically in the biomedical field for tissue-engineered scaffolds, wound healing, and drug delivery) will be addressed.

Moreover, the production of fibrous systems combining electrospinning and microfluidics in innovative

ways is also generating a growing interest in the scientific community. Hybrid technologies, usually

engineered by the integration of electrospun fiber mats within a microfluidic chip, are also included in this

review. The methods and the applications of those technologies such as hybrid tissue-engineered in vitro

models, lab-on-a-chip devices, and platforms for in vitro cancer research are described. Furthermore, their

challenges and future perspectives will also be discussed.