Nanofibers and nanoparticles for orthopaedic surgery applications.

Abstract

The ability of nanostructures to elicit altered cell behaviors, including cell adhesion, proliferation, orientation, motility, integrin expression, cytoskeletal organization, and modulation of intracellular signaling, has raised heightened interest in these materials for various biomedical applications, including orthopaedic repair and regeneration. Studies have demonstrated that nanofibrous structures can favorably modulate osteoblast, osteoclast, and fibroblast activities toward implant and/or scaffold materials. Nanomaterials based on silver nanoparticles have received significant attention. Apart from their unique wound-healing ability, silver nanoparticles also exhibit high antibacterial properties, making them potential candidates for use in the development of infection-resistant biomaterials.