8.2 Scaffolds for tissue engineering: design and fabrication
3 min read•august 16, 2024
Scaffolds are crucial in tissue engineering, providing a temporary structure for cells to grow and form new tissue. They need to be biocompatible, biodegradable, and have the right mechanical properties to support cell growth and tissue formation.
Various materials and techniques are used to make scaffolds. Natural and synthetic polymers, ceramics, and advanced materials offer different benefits. Fabrication methods range from traditional techniques like solvent casting to cutting-edge 3D printing, each with unique advantages for creating the ideal scaffold structure.
Essential Properties of Scaffolds
Biocompatibility and Biodegradability
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Top images from around the web for Biocompatibility and Biodegradability
Frontiers | Implantable and Injectable Biomaterial Scaffolds for Cancer Immunotherapy View original
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Frontiers | Applications of Biocompatible Scaffold Materials in Stem Cell-Based Cartilage Tissue ... View original
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Frontiers | Tissue Engineering Approaches in the Design of Healthy and Pathological In Vitro ... View original
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Frontiers | Implantable and Injectable Biomaterial Scaffolds for Cancer Immunotherapy View original
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Frontiers | Applications of Biocompatible Scaffold Materials in Stem Cell-Based Cartilage Tissue ... View original
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supports , proliferation, and differentiation without eliciting adverse immune responses
Biodegradability allows gradual replacement by newly formed tissue
Degradation rates match the rate of
Sterilizability prevents infection and ensures safe clinical application
Mechanical and Structural Characteristics
Mechanical properties closely mimic those of native tissue
Provides appropriate support and stimuli for cell growth
and interconnected pore structure enable cell infiltration, nutrient diffusion, and waste removal
Surface properties influence cell attachment, spreading, and function
Includes topography and chemistry
Scaffold architecture provides guidance cues for tissue organization and vascularization
Biomaterials for Scaffold Fabrication
Natural and Synthetic Polymers
Natural polymers offer excellent biocompatibility and cell recognition sites
Examples include collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan
May have limited mechanical properties and batch-to-batch variability
Synthetic polymers provide tunable mechanical and degradation properties
Examples include poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), and polycaprolactone
May lack bioactive cues for cell interaction
Composite materials combine different biomaterial types for synergistic properties
Improved and bioactivity
Ceramics and Advanced Materials
Ceramics suitable for tissue engineering due to osteoconductivity
Examples include hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate
Can be brittle and difficult to process
offer a highly hydrated environment similar to natural extracellular matrix
May have limited mechanical strength
Decellularized extracellular matrix provides a natural microenvironment
Preserves biochemical and structural cues
Faces challenges in standardization and scalability
Smart or stimuli-responsive biomaterials change properties in response to external stimuli
Offers dynamic control over scaffold behavior
Scaffold Fabrication Techniques
Traditional Fabrication Methods
Solvent casting and particulate leaching create porous structures
Involves dissolving polymer in solvent, adding porogen particles, and leaching out porogen
(lyophilization) creates porous structures
Freezes polymer solution and sublimates ice crystals under vacuum
Gas foaming utilizes high-pressure CO2 to create porous polymer scaffolds