Design properties of hydrogel tissue-engineering scaffolds

Abstract

This article summarizes the recent progress in the design and synthesis of hydrogels as tissue-engineering scaffolds. Hydrogels are attractive scaffolding materials owing to their highly swollen network structure, ability to encapsulate cells and bioactive molecules, and efficient mass transfer. Various polymers, including natural, synthetic and natural/synthetic hybrid polymers, have been used to make hydrogels via chemical or physical crosslinking. Recently, bioactive synthetic hydrogels have emerged as promising scaffolds because they can provide molecularly tailored biofunctions and adjustable mechanical properties, as well as an extracellular matrix-like microenvironment for cell growth and tissue formation. This article addresses various strategies that have been explored to design synthetic hydrogels with extracellular matrix-mimetic bioactive properties, such as cell adhesion, proteolytic degradation and growth factor-binding.

Lactobacillus casei loaded Soy Protein-Alginate Microparticles prepared by Spray-Drying

“…As a result, the electrostatic repulsion is lower and the polymer chain relaxation increases to be comparable with the medium diffusion, resulting in slower swelling. However, at pH=6.8, the polymer chain relaxation is reduced because of electrostatic repulsion among negative charges, so that the medium diffusion is faster than the relaxation of the polymer chains, pointing to diffusion-controlled swelling (43,44).…”

Fabrication of tough poly(ethylene glycol)/collagen double network hydrogels for tissue engineering

“…The porous structure and tissue-like soft and wet properties of hydrogels have potential applications in the development of implantable drug reservoirs and cell scaffolds. [4][5][6][7] Moreover, hydrogels that are based on biomolecules, 8 such as proteins (e.g., collagen [Col] 9 and gelatin 10,11 ) and polysaccharides (e.g., hyaluronic acid 12,13 and chitosan 14,15 ), acquire not only excellent biocompatibility but also specific bioactivity from their building blocks. These features can artificially mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell growth and proliferation, 16 and are highly advantageous in tissue regenerative therapy.…”

Biomimetic poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(l-lactic acid) blend scaffolds for adipose tissue engineering

“…1 Hydrogels have attractive characteristics, owing to their high water content and three-dimensional (3D) network structure, which closely mimic the natural extracellular matrices of soft tissues. 2 With respect to stimuli-responsive hydrogels, thermoresponsive hydrogels form the most common class, characterized with a temperaturedependent deformation of their polymeric 3D network. 3 Among these hydrogels, thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels have been extensively investigated, because of their well-defined stimulus sensitivity and transition temperature near the body temperature.…”

“…10,11 4 PEG presents attractive physicochemical and biological properties, including hydrophilicity, solubility in water and polar organic solvents, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. 2,12 Hence, the modulation of PU-based hydrogels with PEG improves the biocompatibility, and enables the adjustment of degradability and mechanical properties by varying the molecular mass or concentration of the PEG. 7,13 The ability to design PU-based hydrogels using a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer building block, either natural 2,12,14 or synthetic, 2,12,15,16 is an essential feature in tailoring their biodegradability and biocompatibility.…”