Scaffolds
“Cells are often implanted or 'seeded' into an artificial structure capable of supporting three-dimensional tissue formation. These structures, typically called scaffolds, are often critical, both ex vivo as well as in vivo, to recapitulating the in vivo milieu and allowing cells to influence their own microenvironments. Scaffolds usually serve at least one of the following purposes:
Allow cell attachment and migration
Deliver and retain cells and biochemical factors
Enable diffusion of vital cell nutrients and expressed products
Exert certain mechanical and biological influences to modify the behaviour of the cell phase”
(Wikipedia, Scaffolds, 11/15/2010)
Amine Scaffolds
Applications
Chitosan Scaffolds
Collagen Scaffolds
Electrospinning Tissue Scaffolds
Fluoronated Scaffolds
Hyaluronic Acid Scaffolds
Medicine
PLA /PVDF Blend Scaffolds
Polyamide Scaffolds
Polyaniline Scaffolds
Polycaprolactone (PCL) Scaffolds
Polyester Scaffolds
Polylactic Acid Scaffolds
Polysulfone Scaffolds
Polyurethane Scaffolds
Silk Scaffolds
Tissue Engineering
Review Articles
2/4/2011
Review
Polymeric Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine
(23 – 52) Polymer Reviews 51 #1 (2011)
Kim et al of Ajou University, Catholic University and Korea Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea reviews polymeric scaffolds, a highly promising regenerative medicine strategy, summarizing some important issues related to various natural and synthetic scaffolding biomaterials, techniques on the design and fabrication of three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds to mimic the properties of the extracellular matrix, and clinical applications of polymeric scaffolds for tissue regeneration. (RDC 1/4/2011)
11/12/2010
Polymer nanofibrous structures: Fabrication, biofunctionalization, and cell interactions
(868-892) Progress in Polymer Science 35 #7 (2010)
“Extracellular matrix fibers (ECM) such as collagen, elastin, and keratin provide biological and physical support for cell attachment, proliferation, migration, differentiation and ultimately cell fate.” “Polymer nanofiber scaffolds can be designed in a way that predictably modulates a variety of important cell behaviors towards a desired overall function.” (RDC 11/12/2010 )