Advances in the design of macroporous polymer scaffolds for potential applications in dentistry

Abstract

A paradigm shift is taking place in medicine and dentistry from using synthetic implants and tissue grafts to a tissue engineering approach that uses degradable porous three-dimensional (3D) material hydrogels integrated with cells and bioactive factors to regenerate tissues such as dental bone and other oral tissues. Hydrogels have been established as a biomaterial of choice for many years, as they offer diverse properties that make them ideal in regenerative medicine, including dental applications. Being highly biocompatible and similar to native extracellular matrix, hydrogels have emerged as ideal candidates in the design of 3D scaffolds for tissue regeneration and drug delivery applications. However, precise control over hydrogel properties, such as porosity, pore size, and pore interconnectivity, remains a challenge. Traditional techniques for creating conventional crosslinked polymers have demonstrated limited success in the formation of hydrogels with large pore size, thus limiting cellular infiltration, tissue ingrowth, vascularization, and matrix mineralization (in the case of bone) of tissue-engineered constructs. Emerging technologies have demonstrated the ability to control microarchitectural features in hydrogels such as the creation of large pore size, porosity, and pore interconnectivity, thus allowing the creation of engineered hydrogel scaffolds with a structure and function closely mimicking native tissues. In this review, we explore the various technologies available for the preparation of macroporous scaffolds and their potential applications.

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“…Normally, all of the synthesized nanoparticles showed a highly porous structure, where there is a number of nanofibrous gelatin/silica bioglass composite walls, several tens of nanometers in size, were created through the nanoparticles. [40] This structure was achieved by the unique phase separation of the gelatin/silica hybrid mixtures during TIPS at -70°C. [41] The porous structure is strongly affected by the additional variable not considered here, such as non-solvent/solvent ratio, polymer concentration, and temperature.…”

Bioactive Glass-Biopolymer Composites

“…Afterwards, the porogens are leached away by water immersion and pores or pore channels are formed [56,57]. Figure 4 schematically illustrates the process [58]. Porosity and pore sizes can be precisely adjusted by altering porogen amount and sizes.…”

Bioactive Glass-Biopolymer Composites for Applications in Tissue Engineering

“…However, a recent study of Fig. 4 Illustration of the fabrication steps of macroporous scaffolds by solvent casting-particle leaching method (Reproduced from [58] with the permission of Korean Academy of Periodontology) PHBV/Bioglass scaffolds by SCPL method demonstrated promising application in cartilage tissue engineering as well [61]. Wu et al incorporated 20 wt% 45S5 Bioglass ® powders into PHBV matrix for PHBV/BG porous scaffolds by the abovementioned SCPL method and conducted in vitro and in vivo tests by culturing chondrocytes and implanting into nude mice [61].…”