3D scaffolds

Future studies in this field should focus on better understanding the biology of NP cells, the functional interactions between IVD components, and the pathobiol-ogy of the IDD process in humans, so that early non-surgical interventions can be tested. Use of adult stem cells pre-differentiated under physiologically relevant conditions on 3D scaffolds prior to implantation by minimally invasive procedures may prove most advantageous. 

In cellular infiltration of artificial or natural 3D scaffolds, the cells have to overcome the biophysical resistance given by the surrounding microenvironment. How to evenly distribute cells into such scaffolds while still maintaining or controlling the cell phenotype turns out to be a challenging task. 

Contributions by R. Joseph and P. Arya as well as M. A. Koch and H. Waldmann focus on synthetic aspects towards lead structures originating from natural product-derived scaffolds. R. Joseph and P. Arya refer to two complementary approaches, the synthetic access to focussed libraries around bioactive natural product cores, and diversity-oriented synthesis aiming at 3D scaffold diversity for hit generation, respectively. On the other hand, M. A. Koch and H. Waldmann emphasise the correlation of natural product-based library concepts with structural features of targeted protein domains, thus strengthening the privileged structure concept from a bioorganic viewpoint. 

Hepatocytes are attachment-dependent cells [3, 25]. Without adequate extracellular matrix they lose their liver-specific functions. Therefore, it has been studied intensively which types of matrix, hydrogels, and scaffolds support differentiated hepatocyte functions and which are the key properties. One of the first commercially available hydrogels was Matrigel, an extract from mouse sarcoma cells [26]. Later Extragel, another collagen-based hydrogel [27] Alimatrix, a porous 3D scaffold [28] and PuraMatrix... 

Fig. 17 Images of 3D nanofibrous structure produced by wet-spinning metliod (a). Preosteoblast proliferation on TCP and 3D scaffold (b). ALP activity of preosteoblasts on TCP and 3D scaffolds [147]...

Baker SC, Southgate J (2008) Towards control of smooth muscle cell differentiation in synthetic 3D scaffolds. Biomaterials 29(23) 3357-3366... 

Figure 4.11 Highly porous 3D-scaffold matrix of Sponceram . (Image courtesy of Zellwerk GmbH, Eichstadt, Germany.)...

Chitosan can form 3D scaffold that are too weak to be useful in tissue engineering. Hence, inclusion in the chitosan matrix and/or grafting onto chitosan of other substances such as collagen, other biopolymers, or hydroxyapatite has been achieved to improve the mechanical properties of the scaffold and to mimic the nanostructure of the tissue for a better cell adhesion/infiltration and/or to provide thermosensitivity for in situ gelation. 

Porous 3D scaffold of Viability of hepatocytes in Primary hepatocytes iso- High viability of the Hepatocyte enhancement Chung... 

Rush III, T.S., et al. A shape-based 3D scaffold hopping method and its application to a bacterial protein-protein interaction. J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48, 1489-1495. 

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