Recent Methods for Modifying Mechanical Properties of Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds for Clinical Applications

Abstract

The limited regenerative capacity of the human body, in conjunction with a shortage of healthy autologous tissue, has created an urgent need for alternative grafting materials. A potential solution is a tissue-engineered graft, a construct which supports and integrates with host tissue. One of the key challenges in fabricating a tissue-engineered graft is achieving mechanical compatibility with the graft site; a disparity in these properties can shape the behaviour of the surrounding native tissue, contributing to the likelihood of graft failure. The purpose of this review is to examine the means by which researchers have altered the mechanical properties of tissue-engineered constructs via hybrid material usage, multi-layer scaffold designs, and surface modifications. A subset of these studies which has investigated the function of their constructs in vivo is also presented, followed by an examination of various tissue-engineered designs which have been clinically translated.

Additive and Lithographic Manufacturing of Biomedical Scaffold Structures Using a Versatile Thiol-Ene Photocurable Resin

“…Tensile strength was measured at 1.19 MPa and compression strength was determined to be 4.2 MPa. The bulk material exhibited a relatively soft network, making it well-suited for the fabrication of soft TE scaffolds [ 69 , 70 , 71 ].…”

“…DMA measurements indicated a glass transition temperature (T g ) of −24.4 • C and a storage modulus (E') of 9.76 MPa at 37 • C. Tensile strength was measured at 1.19 MPa and compression strength was determined to be 4.2 MPa. The bulk material exhibited a relatively soft network, making it well-suited for the fabrication of soft TE scaffolds [69][70][71].…”

Effect of GelMA Hydrogel Properties on Long-Term Encapsulation and Myogenic Differentiation of C2C12 Spheroids

“…Though PCL is a biodegradable polymer, there exists a mechanical mismatch between the PCL strut reported therein and the native muscle tissue. Mechanical mismatches between engineered scaffold constructs and native tissue lead to reduced tissue output and implant failure [29][30][31]. Further, rather than a three-dimensional support system, the aligned nanofibrous bundle on the PCL strut provides a two-dimensional scaffolding support with topological cues.…”

Electrospun Scaffolds Enriched with Nanoparticle-Associated DNA: General Properties, DNA Release and Cell Transfection

“…Taking into account that natural tissue consists of many cell types located in different tissue compartments depending on tissue topology, the guidance and long-term maintenance of compartment-specific cell phenotypes are needed, and represent a complicated task. This task is at least no less Important than the maintenance of 3D structure and mechanical properties of artificial tissue, which is required for the integration and long-term functioning of tissue-engineered constructs [1][2][3]. It should be mentioned that the delivery of specific molecules in tissue compartments is feasible due to the mode of 3D scaffold production like 3D printing or other additive technologies [3][4][5][6] that enable the introduction of molecules, depending on the 3D scaffold's location during production.…”

“…This task is at least no less Important than the maintenance of 3D structure and mechanical properties of artificial tissue, which is required for the integration and long-term functioning of tissue-engineered constructs [1][2][3]. It should be mentioned that the delivery of specific molecules in tissue compartments is feasible due to the mode of 3D scaffold production like 3D printing or other additive technologies [3][4][5][6] that enable the introduction of molecules, depending on the 3D scaffold's location during production. The introduction of special reagents inside scaffolding has obvious advantages over systemic delivery, since this approach could provide local delivery, require much fewer reagents and escape side effects due to their extra low concentrations required in systemic circulation.…”