Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative
medicine
D . G O R T H and T . J . WE B S T E R , Brown University, USA
Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of the considerations for
designing a tissue engineering scaffold and the tools available to create and
improve matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The
chapter begins by discussing the challenges and goals of designing matrices.
It then goes on to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the materials and
manufacturing processes available to create matrices.
Key words: extracellular matrix, collagen, biodegradable polymers,
electrospinning, self-assembling peptides.
10.1
Introduction
Natural biological systems are composed of an orchestrated chaos of molecular
signals, cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The human body and its
constituent tissues are enormously complex. The goal of tissue engineering is to
treat bodily damage and disease by supplementing the function of native
damaged tissue and ideally facilitating the complete regeneration of tissue. An
ideal tissue engineering construct would result in a final tissue indistinguishable
from healthy native tissue.
To meet the challenge of replicating the appropriate biological signals for
natural tissue growth, researchers use both cells and three-dimensional matrices.
Although stem cells have received a lot of attention for use in tissue engineering
and regenerative medicine, the importance of matrices in tissue engineered
constructs cannot be overlooked. Not only do matrices provide mechanical
support in vivo, but they also can promote cell growth and integration once a
construct is implanted and begins interacting with native tissue. The use of just
cultured cell sheets in tissue engineering applications is not as effective as using
the same cell sheets in conjunction with a matrix. Not only do the resulting cell±
matrix constructs integrate into living tissue more effectively, but also cell
sheets supported by an artificial matrix are easier to handle and store for clinical
use (Ng and Hutmacher, 2006).
The field of tissue engineering is constantly evolving, so instead of attempt-
ing to just summarize the state of tissue engineering scaffolds, the goal of this
