Tissue engineering biochemical cues

Fibers are emphasized in tissue engineering because the collagen and elastin proteins that cells reside on are fibers. The evolutionary reason for this is likely out of convenience, as the building blocks of all life (amino acids, nucleic adds, carbohydrates) arrange themselves as either single or branched chain polymers. Architecturally, fibers are the logical scaffold component becanse they provide physical directional cues, size differences, mechanical force direction, and differences in density of packing for porosity. Cells have biochemical means (known or apparent) to detect or affect each of those parameters. 

To repair or replace the damaged cartilage with tissue-engineering approaches, it is important to consider the local structure of the cartilage for appropriate biomechanical functions (Wilson et al 2006). The solution of this complex problem should be based upon a combinatory effort of proper material selection, adequate cell sourcing, and incorporation of biochemical/biophysical cues (Vinatier et al., 2009). 

This review outlined the progress over the past few decades in tissue engineering strategies that use hydrogels to treat musculoskeletal tissue loss. Significant advancements have been made in the design and development of hydrogel scaffolds which incorporate many of the required biochemical and biophysical cues for tissue development. Novel methods have been de-... 

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