Tissue engineering combines a scaffold, cells and regulatory signals, reproducing a biomimetic extracellular matrix capable of supporting cell attachment and proliferation. We examined the role of an electrospun scaffold made of a biocompatible polymer during the myogenesis of skeletal muscle (SKM) as an alternative approach to tissue regeneration. The engineered nanostructure was obtained by electrospinning poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) in the form of a 3D porous nanofibrous scaffold further coated with collagen. C2C12 were cultured on the PLCL scaffold, and cell morphology and differentiation pathways were thoroughly investigated. The functionalized PLCL scaffold recreated the SKM nanostructure and performed its biological functions, guiding myoblast morphogenesis and promoting cell differentiation until tissue formation. The scaffold enabled cell–cell interactions through the development of cellular adhesions that were fundamental during myoblast fusion and myotube formation. Expression of myogenic regulatory markers and muscle-specific proteins at different stages of myogenesis suggested that the PLCL scaffold enhanced myoblast differentiation within a shorter time frame. The functionalized PLCL scaffold impacts myoblast bioactivity and acts as a stimulus for cell commitment, surpassing traditional 2D cell culture techniques. We developed a screening model for tissue development and a device for tissue restoration.

In recent years, the demand for filter media has increased dramatically, driven by the need to manufacture personal protective equipment and for various applications in the industrial and civil sectors. Nanofiber‐based membranes are proposed as potential alternatives to commercial filtration devices. This study presents the design and implementation of an innovative pre‐industrial electrospinning setup, combining a negatively charged spinneret and a positively charged counter‐electrode, capable of producing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers with an average diameter of 410 nm and electrostatic surface potential values 3.7 times higher compared to a conventional electrospinning process, eliminating the need for further post‐treatment. These properties are essential for improving mechanical and electrostatic filtration of small particles, including infectious droplets. The surface potential of the membranes is also long‐lasting, as evidenced by tests one year after manufacture. As a case‐study, these filters are used to manufacture surgical masks, reporting excellent performance in terms of bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) up to 99.9%, and breathability (29.8±4.5 Pa cm⁻²) when compared to commercially available meltblown polypropylene (PP) face masks, and also complied with the stringent European standard (EN14683:2019) for type‐II surgical masks. Furthermore, the pre‐industrial setup allows for increased production capacity of up to 42 000 m² per year, suitable for large‐scale production.

Regeneration of injured tendons and ligaments (T/L) is a worldwide need. In this study electrospun hierarchical scaffolds made of a poly (L-lactic) acid and collagen blend were developed reproducing all the multiscale levels of aggregation of these tissues. Scanning electron microscopy, microCT and tensile mechanical tests were carried out, including a multiscale digital volume correlation analysis to measure the full-field strain distribution of electrospun structures. The principal tensile and compressive strains detected the pattern of strains caused by the nanofibers rearrangement, while the deviatoric strains revealed the related internal sliding of nanofibers and bundles. The results of this study confirmed the biomimicry of such electrospun hierarchical scaffolds, paving the way to further tissue engineering and clinical applications. Graphical

Shape Memory Alloy Hybrid Composites (SMAHCs) are promising for morphing structures. However, their transition from laboratory laminates to reliable actuators is hindered by interfacial delamination and the complexity of running real-time control modelling. We address both challenges with a single device and model. We manufactured an elastomer-interfaced SMAHC (E-SMAHC) in a two-step autoclave process that co-cures a rubber-like interface to relieve interfacial shear and embeds a Pt100 sensor adjacent to the wire. We modelled the laminate with a single Timoshenko bimetallic formulation combined with Turner’s effective coefficient of thermal expansion, which lumps the wire’s transformation into a single temperature-dependent coefficient, and added a Euler–Bernoulli contribution for the tip load. We actuated the cantilever by localised Joule heating at three power levels, both unloaded and under a tip load. We calibrated the model coefficients using the unloaded tests. With only the Euler–Bernoulli contribution for the tip load added, the model predicted the loaded tip position with an NRMSE of 6.2–11.7%. An a posteriori refit of the temperature shift using the loaded test data reduced the error to 5.8–6.4%. A preliminary diagnostic further indicates that the wire resistance contains an actuation-related signal, motivating its future evaluation as a possible feedback coordinate. The results provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of an elastomer-interfaced SMAHC actuator and a compact modelling approach under the investigated loading and heating conditions.