3Dweefsels

3Dweefsels is a term used to describe three-dimensional woven tissue-like constructs created through specialized weaving processes that produce interconnected, porous networks intended for biomedical use. In this context, tissues refer to scaffold materials that guide cell attachment, growth, and tissue formation, rather than mature biological tissue themselves. The approach sits at the intersection of textile engineering and regenerative medicine and is discussed as an alternative or complement to conventional scaffold fabrication methods such as electrospinning or 3D printing.

3D weaving uses interlacing yarns in multiple directions, including a z-axis, to build solid yet porous structures with defined architecture. Materials commonly explored for 3Dweefsels include biocompatible polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyglycolic acid (PLGA), as well as natural polymers like collagen or silk fibroin, and various composites. The process allows control over fiber diameter, weave pattern, and porosity, enabling tunable mechanical properties and nutrient transport pathways.

Key advantages include anisotropic mechanics that better mimic some native tissues, scalable fabrication, and the potential for integrated vascular channels through pattern design. Limitations involve achieving consistent pore connectivity at clinical scales, ensuring sterilization and storage stability, and promoting reliable cell ingrowth and vascularization in vivo.

Research on 3Dweefsels is ongoing, with work addressing material selection, surface modification, and hybrid manufacturing approaches. While still at an early stage, the approach aims to provide customizable, durable scaffolds for regeneration, drug delivery, and biomedical research, complementing existing scaffold technologies rather than replacing them.