Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Advances in Tissue Engineering Approaches
to Treatment of Intervertebral Disc
Degeneration: Cells and Polymeric Scaffolds
for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration
Jeremy J. Mercuri and Dan T. Simionescu
Abstract Synthetic polymers and biopolymers are extensively used within the
field of tissue engineering. Some common examples of these materials include
polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, elastin, and various forms of poly-
saccharides. In terms of application, these materials are primarily used in the con-
struction of scaffolds that aid in the local delivery of cells and growth factors, and in
many cases fulfill a mechanical role in supporting physiologic loads that would
otherwise be supported by a healthy tissue. In this review we will examine the
development of scaffolds derived from biopolymers and their use with various cell
types in the context of tissue engineering the
nucleus pulposus
of the intervertebral
disc.
Keywords Biomaterials
Biopolymers
Intervertebral disc
Intervertebral disc
degeneration
Nucleus pulposus
Tissue engineering
Contents
1 Introduction . ............................................................................... 202
2 Anatomy of the Intervertebral Disc . . . . . . . . . .............................................. 202
3
Intervertebral Disc Biochemistry and Cell Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
4
Intervertebral Disc Function and Mechanical Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
J.J. Mercuri
Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 311 Rhodes Center, Clemson,
SC 29634, USA
D.T. Simionescu (
*
)
Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 304 Rhodes Annex, Clemson,
SC 29634, USA
e-mail:
dsimion@clemson.edu
