Cell Electrospinning: Electrohydrodynamic Effects on Cell Viability and Beyond

Electrospinning is a widely used technique for creating nano- to microscale fibers that resembles the fibrous structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment, crucial for tissue engineering and disease modeling. Directly incorporating living cells into the electrospinning process, ‘cell electrospinning’, has evolved in the last two decades as a new biofabrication method combining homogenous cell loading with the potential of single cell resolution. However, keeping cells viable and functional during the electrohydrodynamic process is an ongoing challenge. In this review, key parameters in electrospinning affecting cell viability and functionality are assessed with the goal of identifying the most critical ones in the successful production of living cell-embedded fibers. The review further outlooks the potential mechanobiological and electrophysiological effects on the cells exposed under the electrohydrodynamic condition to layout a couple unexplored applications.