Tissue engineering scaffolds polysaccharides

Natural polymers such as collagen, elastin, and fibrin make up much of the body s native extracellular matrix (ECM), and they were explored as platforms for tissue engineered constructs [34,47 9]. Polysaccharides such as chitosan, starch, alginate, and dextran were also studied for these purposes. Simultaneously, silk fibroin was widely explored for vascular applications due to its higher mechanical properties in comparison to other natural polymers, such as fibrin [48]. The utilization of natural polymers to create tissue-engineered scaffolds has yielded promising results, both in vitro and in vivo, due in part to the enhanced bioactivity provided by materials normally found within the human body [50]. However, their mechanical response is usually below the required values therefore, synthetic polymers have been explored to achieve the desired properties. 

Another group of polymers that have attracted increasing attention for their use as tissue engineering scaffolds in the last decade are degradable polymers, in particular polyesters (e.g. polylactide, polyglycolide), proteins and polysaccharides. 

Abstract Synthetic polymers and biopolymers are extensively used within the field of tissue engineering. Some common examples of these materials include polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, elastin, and various forms of polysaccharides. In terms of application, these materials are primarily used in the construction of scaffolds that aid in the local delivery of cells and growth factors, and in many cases fulfill a mechanical role in supporting physiologic loads that would otherwise be supported by a healthy tissue. In this review we will examine the development of scaffolds derived from biopolymers and their use with various cell types in the context of tissue engineering the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. 

Iwasaki, N., Yamane, S-T., Majima, T. et al. (2004) Feasibility of polysaccharide hybrid materials for scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering evaluation of chondrocyte adhesion to polyion complex fibers prepared from alginate and chitosan. Biomacromoleades, 5, 828-823. 

Chitosan is one of the widely used biomaterials and has gained considerable attention in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications in recent decades. The importance comes from its biocompatibility, biodegradability and easy availability, as well as the possibility to be prepared in various forms such as films, membranes, nanoparticles, fibers, hydrogels and scaffolds. Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide and is obtained... 

In tissue engineering, the bionanocomposite scaffolds comprising polysaccharide nanocrystals can be used as carriers for the localized and controlled release of hioactive compounds, such as growth factors, proteins. 

---