Interaction of MSCs with Cationic Polymers as Scaffolds

5 Interaction of MSCs with Cationic Polymers as Scaffolds 

Tissues such as bone, cartilage, and myocardium possess highly specialized structures and compositions that provide unique mechanical and transport properties. Therefore, to reconstruct a functional engineered tissue after damage, due to injury, disease, or aging, it is necessary to understand how these specialized structures affect cell behavior in vivo, and use this information to direct the design of substitute tissues and organs. 

In this regard, an important goal of tissue engineering for tissue repair is to utilize polymers as a means of controlling stem cells function and to affect their activity, in vitro and further in vivo, via physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological cues communicated from the polymer to the cells in order to obtain improved outcomes for tissue regeneration.  

Currently, as outlined above in Section 15.3, MSCs are the main model for stem cells, for their ability to differentiate into multiple tissue, bone, cartilage, tendon, fibroblast, fat, or muscle in addition, they can be readily expanded ex vivo for several passages and, therefore, a large number can be obtained for seeding onto 3D scaffolds. Finally, MSCs regulate immune and inflammatoiy response, and can also have a reparative effect through 

Different biomaterials have been tested in combination with MSCs for developing engineered tissues and delivering cells and/or drugs for in vivo applications. Here we briefly review the main materials used to construct biocompatible scaffolds and their combination with cationic polymers, with particular emphasis on chitosan. 

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