Molecular Imprinting Strategies for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review

Abstract

Tissue Engineering (TE) represents a promising solution to fabricate engineered constructs able to restore tissue damage after implantation. In the classic TE approach, biomaterials are used alongside growth factors to create a scaffolding structure that supports cells during the construct maturation. A current challenge in TE is the creation of engineered constructs able to mimic the complex microenvironment found in the natural tissue, so as to promote and guide cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this context, the introduction inside the scaffold of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)—synthetic receptors able to reversibly bind to biomolecules—holds great promise to enhance the scaffold-cell interaction. In this review, we analyze the main strategies that have been used for MIP design and fabrication with a particular focus on biomedical research. Furthermore, to highlight the potential of MIPs for scaffold-based TE, we present recent examples on how MIPs have been used in TE to introduce biophysical cues as well as for drug delivery and sequestering.

Molecular imprinting as a simple way for the long-term maintenance of the stemness and proliferation potential of adipose-derived stem cells: an in vitro study

“…35 So, in stem cell-based regenerative medicine, suitable cell culture platforms providing well-defined biophysical and biochemical properties are needed to mimic the in vivo microenvironments, 12 and simulate identical cell proliferation and differentiation conditions. 36 Nonetheless, designing a substrate that will give the required biological cues to drive cells still is challenging. 37 One of the fundamental areas in regenerative medicine is the responsiveness of stem cells to topographical cues, including micro-and nanoscaled patterns influencing cell fate.…”

“…After polymerization and stamp production, specific geometries can be made from nanoscale (30 nm) to micro-scale (100 mm). 36,37 PDMS has been employed in the imprinting procedure because of its simplicity of fabrication, gas permeability, optical transparency, and low chemical reactivity. 42 Also, against conventional TCP, PDMS has many other advantages such as nontoxicity, adjustable physico-mechanical properties, easy moldability, precision at micro-scale and nanoscale, and low manufacturing costs, which make it desirable as a cell culture substrate.…”

“…After polymerization and stamp production, specific geometries can be made from nanoscale (30 nm) to micro-scale (100 μm). 36,37…”

Recent molecularly imprinted polymers applications in bioanalysis

“…MIP techniques are significantly developed and used in many fields, such as food analysis, analytical chemistry, therapeutics, drug delivery, sensors, immunoassays, biomedical diagnosis and environmental studies (Otero-Pazos et al 2014 ; Kou et al 2020 ; Yang et al 2014 ; He et al 2021 , 2020 ; Ciechanowska et al 2020 ; Song et al 2018 ; Bonatti et al 2021 ; Gornik et al 2021 ; Cennamo et al 2018 ; Muhammad et al 2017 ). For instance, efforts on finding the best method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 are very salient and applying MIP techniques is being considered.…”

Green Aspects in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers by Biomass Waste Utilization

“…MIPs’ advantageous features permitted an extensive application in analytical field such as foods, drugs, biological, and environmental sectors for the detection, preconcentration or separation of several analytes [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Other MIPs applications such as drug delivery [ 23 ] and catalysis [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], tissue engineering [ 27 ] have be also considered. It is worth noting that several different MIPs formats have been developed such as bulk or monoliths, microspheres and core–shell materials, magnetically susceptible and stir-bar imprinted materials which are applicable as sorbents of solid-phase extraction.…”