Biomimetic approach to biomaterials

Biomimetic Approach to Biomaterials Amino Acid-Residue-Specific Enzymes for Protein Grafting and... 

Two examples stand out research on ceramic precursors and research on biomaterials via so-called biomimetic approaches. I had started the systematic organometallic precursor work for making ceramic powders in a series of a few dozen papers starting in 1948 (1, 2). By the mid-1950s I had shown that inorganic sols did essentially as well and were orders of magnitude cheaper. The very sophisticated ceramic precursor work, now a decade old, has yet to demonstrate a special niche for itself in any real examples with unique properties. 

The biomimetic approach plays a very important role in tissue engineering for the design of biomaterial scaffolds, providing structural, mechanical and logistic templates to cell attachment and tissue formation [50]. The aim of this approach is to mimic the key features of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which in natural tissues provides structural support for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation [45]. The ECM is custom designed and manufactured by the resident cells... 

Techniques to produce multiscale biomaterial scaffolds with designer geometries are the need of the hour to provide improved biomimetic properties for functional tissue replacements. While micrometer fibers generate an open pore stnicture, nanofibers support cell adhesion and facilitate cell-cell interactions. This was further proven by cell penetration studies, which showed superior ingrowth of cells into hierarchical structures. Mixed bimodal scaffolds of two different polymers are another promising approach, because they exhibit hierarchical pore/ surface systems and combine the beneficial properties of both polymers at two different scales. Vaiious 3D micro- and nanoscale multiscale scaffolds have been fabricated through various techniques and were found to have the potential to essentially recreate natural bone, cardiac, neural, and vascular tissues. 

As an alternative to traditional chemieal methods employing toxie reagents and solvents and harsh conditions, enzymatic approaches may offer eleaner and safer alternatives for the incorporation of ECM-derived peptide sequenees into biomaterials. The enzyme-catalyzed reactions are an interesting approaeh to prepare biomimetic biomaterials enzymes are expected to offer alternatives to current chemical approaches, owing to their specificity and selectivity, which allows a more careful control of reaction conditions and final biomaterial structure by targeting selected reactive sites of the substrate [94]. 

The development of biomimetic and bioinspired multifunctional composite materials will have a significant influence on the development of novel, alternative methods and approaches for treatment of bone injuries and for surgical techniques in bone diseases, and could improve the effectiveness of the treatment of some diseases. In addition to these potential clinical applications, such engineered biomaterials can contribute to fundamental science, including better understanding of the interactions of materials with living cell systems. 

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