Hollow Fiber and Nanofiber Membranes in Bioartificial Organs and Tissue Engineering

Membrane systems offer interesting approaches for the design of bio/artificial organs, tissue analogues as well as for drug and cell delivery, offering new specific cell therapy with high reliability and efficacy. Membranes in Hollow fiber (HF) configuration can be used for the creation of organs/tissue analogous (e.g., liver, kidney, skin, neuronal system, bone) because of the selective transport properties that allow high control at molecular level of cell microenvironment. Hollow fibers enable the compartmentalization of cells in microand nano-structured complexes, the adhesion of cells offering a wide surface area, and a selective mass transfer of molecules to and from cells. Membranes composed of nanofibers are used as scaffolds in tissue engineering since they are designed to have a large porous structure that facilitates migration cells and the transport of nutrients during tissue regeneration. This chapter aims to provide a valuable overview on the application of HFs and nanofibers in the field of bioartificial organs and tissue engineering looking to the emerging applications and future perspectives of membrane science and engineering.