Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering

The use of scaffolds in tissue engineering has been reviewed (23). The methods by which the scaffolds might be fabricated have been discussed. The main features a scaffold should have are discussed, as well as the progress that has been made to reach these targets. In particular, inkjet printing is discussed as a viable production route. 

In addition, an overview of the current challenges in this field is given and the different types of material that can be used for scaffolds are detailed (23). 

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The polymer/SWCNT composites can be used as Scaffolds in tissue engineering. The donor-acceptor interactions can be used to assemble thin polymer/SWCNT films stepwise. This method also can be expended to more thermally and oxidatively stable polymer systems. For example, the P4VP/SWCNT films can be used as scaffolds for the synthesis of novel hybrid structures (Correa-Duaite et al., 2004). The polyethyl-enimine (PEI)-SWCNTs composites were used as a substrate for cultured neurons, and promoted neurite outgrowth and branching (Rouse et al., 2004). Correa-Duarte et al. (2004 Landi et al., 2005) reported that 3D-MWCNT-based networks are ideal candidates for scaffolds/matrices in tissue engineering. 

R. A. MacDonald, B.F. Laurenzi G. Viswanathan P. M. Ajayan J. P. Stegemann, Collagen-carbon nanotube composite materials as scaffolds in tissue engineering, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, vol. 74A, pp. 489-496, 2005. 

Ramakrishna S., Textile scaffolds in tissue engineering in Tao X. (ed.) Smart Fibres, Fabrics and Clothing, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, 2001,299. 

Genove, E., Semino, C., and Zhang, S. Self-Assembling Peptides Incorporating Modifications, Method for Preparation and Use as Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering, 2004-US20549... 

Chan, B.P. and Leong, K.W. (2008) Scaffolding in tissue engineering general approaches and tissue-specific considerations. Eur. Spine /., 17 (Suppl. 4), 467-479. 

Ehrenfreund-Kleinman T, Golenser J, Domb AJ (2006) Polysachharide scaffolds for tissue engineering. In MaPX, Elisseeff J (eds) Scaffolding in tissue engineering. CRC, Boca Raton... 

Kharande TS, Agrawal CM (2008) Functions and requirements of synthetic scaffolds in tissue engineering. In Laurencin CT, Nair LS (eds) Nanotechnology and tissue engineering the scaffold. CRC, Boca Raton... 

Hutmacher, D.W. Scaffolds in tissue engineering bone and cartilage. Biomaterials 2000. 21, 2529 2543. 

Morita, S. and Dcada, Y. 2002. Lactide copolymers for scaffolds in tissue engineering. In K. U. Lewandrowski, D. L. Wise, D. J. Trantolo, J. D. Gresser, M. J. Yaszemski, and D. E. Altobelli, Eds., Tissue Engineering and Biodegradable Equivalents Scientific and Clinical Applications, pp. 111-122. New York Marcel Dekker. 

Berglund JD, Nerem RM and Sambanis A. Incorporation of intact elastin scaffolds in tissue-engineered collagen-based vascular grafts. Tissue Eng. 10 1526-1535,2004. 

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