Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
for example, in blood vessels and cornea, although the ECM structure
may be altered by ice formation [72, 88, 89].
4a.5 Conclusion
Biodegradable scaffolds composed of natural hydrogels made from
biogenic proteins and polysaccharides, and synthetic hydrogels
made from synthetic polymers, are being utilized in tissue engi-
neering to support a wide range of deficient tissues. Natural and
synthetic hydrogels have the advantage of being easy to use to
construct an objective tissue or to inject liquid hydrogel into a dis-
eased area. Biodegradable scaffolds mixed with cells can easily be
injected as a liquid or engrafted as a molded gel onto the affected
part. Subsequently, the transplanted hydrogel is replaced with the
ECM produced by the cells after intravital degradation and absorp-
tion. Although injection of solutions involved with chemokines,
growth factor, hormones, and other drugs results in diffusion to the
surrounding region, the biodegradable hydrogel mixed with those
agents can produce a greater therapeutic effect by controlled re-
lease. On the other hand, scaffolds of decellularized tissue or organs
have the benefit of maintaining a true 3D structure. Although, con-
struction of intact tissues or organs that can perform their original
function is not currently feasible it is expected to be achieved with
further development.
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