Biosensory implications of scaffolds: Designing, integration and biomedical applications

The recent advancements in medical science and technology have enabled the diversified applications of existing drug delivery systems. Scaffolds are regarded as a relatively novel drug delivery system mostly employed in therapeutic and biomedical applications. In recent times, scaffolds are widely being investigated for sensory applications in in-vivo conditions. The mostly employed scaffold types for sensory applications are nanofibers, hydrogels, 3-D printed scaffolds and microparticulate scaffolds. Owing to its favorable physicochemical properties, scaffolds can also simultaneously function as a sensor in biological environment and also as delivery vectors. The surface charge, optical properties, porous nature, higher mechanical strength, and biodegradable behavior of polymeric scaffolds have encouraged pharmaceutical researchers to investigate upon it as biosensor. The ease of fabrication techniques, compatibility for customization and functionalization have made scaffolds a versatile system that is yet to be fully explored. The connection for integration of biosensor within scaffold has been described in this article. This review outlines the suitability of biomaterials-based scaffolds in sensory applications alongside the commonly employed fabrication techniques and biosensing applications. • Nanofiber, hydrogel, 3D-printed and microparticulate scaffolds are used as biosensor. • Properties and rationality of using different biosensing scaffolds. • Integration of biosensing elements into scaffolds. • Applications of biosensing scaffolds in several biomedical fields.