Heterogeneity of Scaffold Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Tissue engineering (TE) offers a potential solution for the shortage of transplantable organs and the need for novel methods of tissue repair. Methods of TE have advanced significantly in recent years, but there are challenges to using engineered tissues and organs including but not limited to: biocompatibility, immunogenicity, biodegradation, and toxicity. Analysis of biomaterials used as scaffolds may, however, elucidate how TE can be enhanced. Ideally, biomaterials should closely mimic the characteristics of desired organ, their function and their in vivo environments. A review of biomaterials used in TE highlighted natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and decellularized organs as sources of scaffolding. Studies of discarded organs supported that decellularization offers a remedy to reducing waste of donor organs, but does not yet provide an effective solution to organ demand because it has shown varied success in vivo depending on organ complexity and physiological requirements. Review of polymer-based scaffolds revealed that a composite scaffold formed by copolymerization is more effective than single polymer scaffolds because it allows copolymers to offset disadvantages a single polymer may possess. Selection of biomaterials for use in TE is essential for transplant success. There is not, however, a singular biomaterial that is universally optimal.

Regenerative medicine, organ bioengineering and transplantation

“…Decellularization is a process in which an acellular extracellular matrix (aECM) scaffold can be obtained by using chemical or physical means to remove cellular components of living tissue 20 . The product of decellularization is a three‐dimensional (3D) ultrastructure of ECM that may be used as a natural scaffold for application in tissue engineering and RM 21 . Ideally, the aECM scaffold retains both structural integrity and existing biochemical properties of the native tissue nanostructure.…”

Oxygen and nutrient delivery in tissue engineering: Approaches to graft vascularization

“…An advantage of this system is that the native extracellular matrix is preserved. Yet this approach is also limited in the number of layers, that is, the size of the tissue graft that can be constructed fabrication include ceramics (e.g., for bone regeneration), synthetic polymers, or natural polymers, which have all been reviewed elsewhere (Bassas-Galia, Follonier, Pusnik, et al, 2017;Edgar et al, 2016;Moroni, Nandakumar, de Groot, van Blitterswijk, & Habibovic, 2015). Another method to obtain a 3D scaffold is tissue decellularization, a process in which all cells are removed from a donor tissue, after which (stem) cells are reimplanted into the remaining matrix.…”

Polymeric Scaffolds for Pancreatic Tissue Engineering: A Review

“…Silk protein is commonly used in the textile industry; it is produced by silk worms and spiders. The fibrous protein in it native form consists of a component (sericin) which can elicit an inflammatory response [80]. However, this component can be removed by the process of alkali-or enzymebased "degumming".…”