Abstract: Disclosed are composite materials that can more closely mimic the mechanical characteristics of natural elastic tissue, such as vascular tissue. Disclosed materials include a combination of elastic nanofibers and non-elastic nanofibers. Also disclosed are a variety of methods for forming the composite materials. Formation methods generally include the utilization of electrospinning methods to form a fibrous composite construct including fibers of different mechanical characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite arrays and methods of forming the arrays. Composite arrays include a hydrogel-forming polymeric network and a network of electrospun fibers embedded within the polymeric network. For instance, the polymeric network can include one or more extracellular matrix proteins. The network of electrospun fibers can describe an open configuration that incorporates sufficient space between adjacent fibers to allow for cellular ingrowth between and among individual fibers. Disclosed composite arrays can be utilized as a supporting scaffold for living cells, for instance in development of bioengineered tissue constructs.