Role of Textiles in Tissue Engineering – A Biological and Engineering Perspective
Abstract:
Tissue engineering (TE) offers solutions for repairing or replacing damaged tissues where traditional autologous and homologous transplants face limitations such as donor shortages and morbidity. Textiles have emerged as promising scaffolds due to their tunable mechanical properties, structural versatility, and similarity to the fibrous extracellular matrix. This review provides an overview of the major fiber formation methods and textile technologies—including weaving, knitting, braiding, spacer fabrics, and electrospinning—and highlights how each can be tailored for specific TE applications. The suitability of textile scaffolds for different tissues is discussed based on mechanical requirements, porosity, and biological performance. Although textile-based scaffolds show strong potential in preclinical studies, challenges remain in achieving clinically scalable, biologically relevant designs. Advances in 3D bioprinting, melt electrowriting, and smart textiles may further enhance their applicability. Overall, this review guides researchers in selecting and optimizing textile structures for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.
