Engineering Graded Tissue Interfaces - Structural Interfaces and Attachments in Biology - page 296

Fig. 14.2 Deposited mineral gradients induced by hydrogel stiffness gradients after 42 days and
77 days culture of encapsulated osteoblasts. Deposition of mineral at the stiffer ends of the
gradients caused a change in appearance from transparent to white (reproduced, with permission,
from [ 59 ])
for in vitro engineering tissues. However, these strategies have not been widely
explored to recreate all the complexities at the interfacial junction of tissues.
Bone substitute materials, calcium phosphates, hydroxyapatite (HA), and
bioglasses are biocompatible and have the capacity to bond directly to bone.
When combined with polymeric materials, these components impart high stiffness
and compressive strength. Li et al . [ 62 ] made a continuous linear gradient in
calcium phosphate content across the surface of a nanofiber mat that could be
used for repairing the tendon-to-bone insertion. This gradient was obtained
by varying the incubation time of the nanofiber mat in simulated body fluid.
The graded material design produced a change in the mechanical properties of