Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Theinterconnectionpreventedtheshrinkageofthecentralcollagen
sponge. The outer layer of the PLLA-collagen hybrid sponge should
prevent cell leakage during cell seeding. At the same time, the high
mechanical strength of the PLLA cup served as a mechanical skele-
ton and reinforced the hybridsponge.
22.7 Conclusions
Severaltypesoffunctionalhybridscaffoldshavebeenpreparedfrom
biodegradable synthetic polymers and collagen. The initially devel-
oped hybrid porous scaffolds, such as the PLGA-collagen hybrid
sponge, the PLGA-collagen hybrid mesh, and the PLLA-collagen
hybrid braid, were developed by forming collagen microsponges in
the pores, openings, or interstices of the PLGA sponge, the PLGA
mesh, and the PLLA braid, respectively. The hybrid scaffolds com-
bine the advantages of the two kinds of biodegradable polymers.
Theskeletonofthesyntheticpolymersdefinestheoverallshapeand
size of the scaffolds and provides high mechanical properties, while
the incorporated collagen microsponge contributes good cell inter-
actionandfacilitatescellseedinganddistribution.Recently,abipha-
sichybridscaffoldhasbeendevelopedbyformingacollagensponge
on one side of a PLGA-collagen hybrid mesh. Even more recently,
leak-proof hybrid scaffolds have been developed by covering all the
surfaces of the collagen sponge except the cell seeding surface with
a skeleton having a structure composed of small pores. The leak-
proofscaffoldsnotonlycombinetheadvantageofthebiodegradable
synthetic polymers and collagen, they also have the capacity to pre-
ventcellescapefromtheporousscaffoldsduringcellseeding.These
hybrid porous scaffolds have been demonstrated as being useful for
tissueengineeringofavarietyoftissuessuchasskin,ligament,blad-
der, vascular tissue, cartilage, bone, and osteochondral tissue. The
methods of hybridization introduced in the chapter are primarily
used for the hybridization of biodegradable synthetic polymers and
collagen. The methods can also be used to hybridize biodegradable
synthetic polymers with other kinds of naturally derived polymers.
More kinds of naturally derived polymers can be mixed and used
for hybridization with biodegradable synthetic polymers. Bioactive
 
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