Fibrin: A Versatile Scaffold for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Tissue engineering combines cell and molecular biology with materials and mechanical engineering to replace damaged or diseased organs and tissues. Fibrin is a critical blood component responsible for hemostasis, which has been used extensively as a biopolymer scaffold in tissue engineering. In this review we summarize the latest developments in organ and tissue regeneration using fibrin as the scaffold material. Commercially available fibrinogen and thrombin are combined to form a fibrin hydrogel. The incorporation of bioactive peptides and growth factors via a heparin-binding delivery system improves the functionality of fibrin as a scaffold. New technologies such as inkjet printing and magnetically influenced self-assembly can alter the geometry of the fibrin structure into appropriate and predictable forms. Fibrin can be prepared from autologous plasma, and is available as glue or as engineered microbeads. Fibrin alone or in combination with other materials has been used as a biological scaffold for stem or primary cells to regenerate adipose tissue, bone, cardiac tissue, cartilage, liver, nervous tissue, ocular tissue, skin, tendons, and ligaments. Thus, fibrin is a versatile biopolymer, which shows a great potential in tissue regeneration and wound healing.

Bone tissue engineering: A review in bone biomimetics and drug delivery strategies

“…155 Proteins delivered to the site of an injury via blood, such as fibrin and fibrinogen, have also been investigated as scaffold materials for their hemostatic and cell-binding capacity. 157 Several other naturally derived polymers such as silkworm silk fibers exhibit comparable biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo as compared with other commonly used biomaterials such as collagen and polylactic acid (PLA). 158 Despite the optimism surrounding this approach, several important barriers remain in the pursuit towards utilizing full-length natural proteins for the construction of in 3D scaffolds.…”

The past, present and future in scaffold-based tendon treatments

“…Collagen peptides have also been used, with preclinical data demonstrating increased collagen synthesis [129], maintenance of homeostasis [130] and improved healing, as judged by mean average diameter, distribution of fibrils and GAG composition [131]. The utilisation of fibrin has been advocated based on its high cytocompatibility, biodegradability, controllable cross-linking, carrier capacity and presence of several ECM proteins, such as fibronectin, that enhance cell adhesion and proliferation [132][133][134]. Preclinical analysis revealed that fibrin glue around the suture site enabled rabbit flexor tendon healing with smooth gliding surface and without formation of adhesions [119].…”

Influencing biophysical properties of fibrin with buffer solutions

“…However, they might not be the more appropriate for tissue engineering. Indeed, according to Ahmed et al, fibrin hydrogels as cell scaffold for tissue engineering have three major disadvantages: matrix shrinkage, low mechanical stiffness, and rapid degradation before proper tissue formation [2]. The translucent gels, though not supporting cell proliferation, were able to maintain the initial cell number and to sustain cell survival up to 3 weeks of culture without noticeable carrier shrinkage.…”

“…Since many years, fibrin glues have been widely used as surgical sealants. More recently, they also have been proposed as scaffolding for cell delivery in several tissue engineering applications [2]. Numerous in vitro studies, indeed, have demonstrated the ability of fibrin gels to support survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation of many cell types [3][4][5][6], including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) [7][8][9].…”