Bone is a complex and highly specialized form of connective tissue which acts as the main supporting organ of the body. It is hard and dynamic by its nature, with a unique combination of organic and inorganic elements embedded in a fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM), onto which cells attach, proliferate and differentiate. When bone repair mechanisms fail, due to infection or defect magnitude, bone formation can be stimulated with the use of autologous

Bone tissue engineering scaffolds have two challenging functional tasks to fulfil: to encourage cell proliferation, differentiation and matrix synthesis and to provide suitable mechanical stability upon implantation. Composites of biopolymers and bioceramics combine the advantages of both types of materials, resulting in better processability and enhanced mechanical and biological properties through matrix reinforcement. In the present study, novel

Electrospinning of fibrous scaffolds containing nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) embedded in a matrix of functional biomacromolecules offers an attractive route to mimicking the natural bone tissue architecture. Functional fibrous substrates will support cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, while the role of HAp is to induce cells to secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) for mineralization to form bone. Electrospinning of biomaterials composed