Abstract: The invention relates to a fibrous composite material comprising a nonfibrous component having a water content of less than 10 wt. %; and a fibrous component comprising a porous scaffold of a plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers; wherein the nonfibrous component is a linear or branched, water-soluble, synthetic or natural polymer dispersed on the porous scaffold; and wherein at least 50% by weight of the fibrous composite material is the fibrous component. The fibrous composite material is useful in therapy, for instance, as a synthetic or substitute amniotic membrane. It may be used in the prevention and/or treatment of various trauma induced and chronic wounds and in ophthalmology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic composition comprising an inner portion and a biocompatible membrane fully or partially surrounding the inner portion. The biocompatible membrane comprises at least two layers: a first layer of a porous, nonwoven network of thermoplastic polyurethane polymer fibers formed by electrospinning and having a porosity of greater than or equal to 50%; an average pore diameter of less than 5 ?m; and has a thickness in the range 10 to 250 ?m; and a second layer of a porous, nonwoven network of thermoplastic polymer fibers formed by electrospinning. The second layer has a mean average fiber diameter of the second layer is greater than the mean average fiber diameter in the first layer, and/or wherein the average pore diameter of the second layer is greater than the average pore diameter of the first layer. The inner portion comprises a therapeutic agent. The invention also relates to uses of the membrane and therapeutic composition, for instance, to encapsulate therapeutic cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elongate scaffold comprising: an inner portion comprising a polymer; and an outer portion comprising a porous, nonwoven network of polymer fibers, wherein the packing density of the inner portion is greater than the packing density of the outer portion; wherein the inner portion (a) comprises a plurality of polymer fibers twisted around one another or (b) is a solid core comprising the polymer. The invention also relates to a scaffold precursor and a process for producing a scaffold, comprising twisting a scaffold precursor of the invention along its length. Further provided is a hybrid composition comprising the scaffold and cells and/or an active agent such as a drug, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, a protein, a polypeptide, or an exosome.

Abstract: The invention provides a microscaffold comprising a porous particle, which particle: (a) comprises a three dimensional network of fibres, which fibres comprise a polymer, and (b) has a particle size of less than or equal to 2000 ?m. Further provided is a composition, which composition comprises a microscaffold of the invention or a plurality of microscaffolds of the invention. The invention also provides a multi-well assay plate comprising: a plurality of sample wells, and a composition of the invention in at least one of the sample wells. The microscaffold, composition or multi-well plate may be used for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, screening compounds for biological use or drug screening. The microscaffold may further comprise a magnetic material, and the invention additionally provides a method of manipulating one or more such microscaffolds.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-well plate, comprising: a plate base, which defines the bottom of a plurality of sample wells; a scaffold layer disposed on the plate base, which scaffold layer provides a porous three-dimensional network of polymer nanofibres in each of said sample wells; and a plate frame, which defines the side walls of said sample wells; wherein the plate frame is bonded to the plate base through the scaffold layer. The invention further provides a process for producing the multi-well assay plate. Further provided is a scaffold which comprises a porous three dimensional network of electrospun polymer nanofibres, wherein the mean diameter of the polymer nanofibres is from 500 nm to 10 ?m. A process for producing the scaffold is also provided, as are various uses of the multi-well plate and the scaffold in drug screening, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.