Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Fabrication Techniques and Properties
of Scaffolds
Abstract
The development of porous materials for use as scaffolds for the
sustained 3D growth of tissue is a fast growing area in TE that has attracted com-
mercial interest to a large extent. To fabricate both polymer scaffold and compos-
ite scaffold, many techniques are available. By using proper technique, the porous
structure of polymeric and composite scaffolds could be controlled by varying the
processing or formulation parameters. It is often necessary to modify the surface
properties of biomaterials without changing the bulk attributes as a biomaterial
rarely possess good surface characteristics suitable for bone tissue engineering.
This chapter reviews the various existing methodologies to fabricate scaffolds and
to modify the surface properties of scaffolds. It also discusses the study of interac-
tions between tissues and biomaterials.
Keywords
Scaffold fabrication techniques • Surface modiication • Protein
adsorption • Degradation
2.1 Scaffold Fabrication Techniques
Bio-absorbable polymers have been used for constructing TE scaffolds. To
make a scaffold successful, it must be porous to allow bone ingrowths (Lanza
et al.
2007
). However, the size, shape and the interconnectivity of the pores are
crucial aspects to ensure rapid vascularization and growth of the surrounding
bone into the scaffold. A major problem is to design a scaffold which has suf-
ficiently high modulus and strength as well as maintaining a high degree of
interconnected porosity (Lutton et al.
2001
). The technique used to manufacture
scaffolds for tissue engineering is dependent on the properties of the polymer
and its intended application. Several methods have been developed to create
highly porous scaffolds, including fiber bonding, solvent casting/particulate
leaching, melt molding, extrusion, gas foaming, freeze drying and phase sepa-
ration (Lanza et al.
2007
).
Search WWH ::
Custom Search