Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Inactivated
cell
Diffusion
of
growth
factor
Diseased
site
(A)
Synthetic
ECM
?
?
Tissue
regeneration
?
?
?
Activated
cell
(B)
Growth
factor bound
to matrix
?
?
?
Figure 15.1
Schematic illustration of two main strategies for growth factor presentation using synthetic
ECMs, (A) Physical encapsulation. (B) Chemical immobilization [31].
biomaterials. In some cases they require pretreatment for surface functionalization by
treatment with plasma or ionizing radiation graft copolymerization [76, 77]. 1-Ethyl-3-(3-
dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) cross-linking is one of the most popular
methods for covalent modification of neural biomaterials [66, 78].
Effects of Physico-Mechanical Cues
Rationale for Micro- and Nanotopography
Researchers have generated micro- and nanopatterning on biological substrates with the
intent to appropriately mimic the complex structure of the ECM and introduce spatiotem-
poral controlling parameters to positively affect neural cell behavior. These substrates play
a pivotal role in development of new therapies [79]. As with modulation of cellular function
via intricate topographical characteristics
in vivo
, the application of synthetic topograph-
ical cues, cell polarization, proliferation, alignment, adhesion, and differentiation
in vitro
will be promoted to hopefully result in better nerve regeneration [80, 81]. Micro-/nanoscale
structures of the human body are the leading hallmarks that help researchers to design and
fabricate biomimetic materials. Figure 15.2 presents nanotopographical features of four
types of human tissues [82].
