Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9.6
Future Directions
A couple of interesting emerging trends tend to bring scaffold-based TE on the next
level. First of all, the implementation of gradient techniques, in the general sense,
seems to provide some promising approaches. The utilization of blends layed down
the foundation of working with material gradients. Via this way, a more precise
mimicking of the ECM composition and mechanical properties will be possible,
with spatial alterations throughout the scaffold. Of course, this can be extended
towards different and multiple cell types, biomolecules, growth factors, etc., depos-
ited in predefined patterns throughout the scaffold. Furthermore, gradients applied
on the deposited scaffold pattern in itself (the deposited strand configuration) offers
interesting alternatives to alter the mechanical properties of the construct. Although
some authors already performed some initial experiments [
165,
190
] , the applicabil-
ity of such approaches needs to be investigated in depth.
Second, combining multiple fabrication methods to obtain a single con-
struct appears to be useful. For instance, combining electrospinning (~nano-
porosity) and bioplotting (~microporosity) for the production of a single
scaffold was demonstrated by Kim et al. [
296
]. The combined effect of differ-
ent techniques will most likely exhibit positive cooperative effects. Thus,
instead of focusing on the exploitation of one single technique, it would be
most fruitful to combine the positive effects of different techniques into one
operation procedure.
Last but definitely the most fascinating trend, material scientists should incor-
porate the knowledge of engineers into the designing step of the construct. This
last item is somewhat related to the first one, with a clear, distinct focus on the
mechanical properties. By means of finite element modelling, predicting the
mechanical properties of the construct can be handful. More importantly, adjust-
ing the (predicted) mechanical properties of a model simply by varying the geo-
metrical design of the material offers an interesting path to match its expected
properties and the desired properties. The principles, advantages, and possible
applications of this so-called Bio-CAD modelling in TE have been reviewed in
2005 by Sun et al. [
223,
297
]. In the last couple of years, more and more, bone-
engineering scientists follow this methodology [
298-
300
]. However, in the case
of soft tissue engineering and/or tailored hydrogel scaffolds, this has not yet been
intensively explored.
References
1. Wolfe RA, Roys EC, Merion RM (2010) Trends in organ donation and transplantation in the
United States, 1999-2008. Am J Transplant 10(4):961-972
2. Desmet T, Schacht E, Dubruel P (2008) Rapid prototyping as an elegant production tool for
polymeric tissue engineering scaffolds: a review. In: Barnes SJ, Harris LP (eds) Tissue engi-
neering: roles, materials and applications. Nova, New York
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