Nanofiber scaffold-based tissue engineering for the treatment of acute liver failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) has a mortality rate of more than 40%. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation is the sole clinical treatment for ALF, but its wide usage is severely limited due to donor shortage and immunological rejection. An emerging and promising technology for ALF treatment is liver tissue engineering (LTE), wherein porous scaffolds serve as a crucial component. Nanofiber scaffolds, which mimic the inherent structures of fibrous extracellular matrix well, provide an ideal environment for cell growth and tissue regeneration. Recently, several functional nanofiber scaffolds for LTE have been developed, which show impressive results in regulating cell function and repairing liver injury when combined with appropriate seeding cells and/or growth factors. This review firstly introduces the etiologies and treatment indicators of ALF. Subsequently, typical fabrication technologies of nanofiber scaffolds and their related applications for function regulation of liver-related cells and treatment of ALF are comprehensively summarized. Particular emphasis is placed on the strategies involving an appropriate combination of suitable seeding cells and growth factors. Finally, the current challenges and the future research and development prospects of nanofiber scaffold-based LTE are discussed. This review will serve as a valuable reference for designing and modifying novel nanofiber scaffolds, further promoting their potential application in LTE and other biomedical fields.