Polyfunctional Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Three-dimensional porous scaffolds play an important role for tissue engineering. The recent developments of porous scaffolds and their preparation methods, especially those developed by our group, are summarized in this review. A method for the preparation of biodegradable porous scaffolds has been developed by using pre-prepared ice particulates as porogen material. A kind of composite biodegradable porous scaffolds has been developed by forming collagen microsponges in the pores or interstices of a synthetic polymer sponge or mesh. A composite sponge of synthetic polymer, collagen and hydroxyapatite has been developed for hard tissue engineering. Bovine articular cartilage-like tissue has been engineered by culturing chondrocytes in the PLGA-collagen scaffolds.

Keywords

• biodegradable polymer
• tissue engineering
• composite sponge
• composite mesh
• articular cartilage