Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
17.4 Transmission electron micrograph of human epidermal
keratinocytes (HEKs): (a) intracellular localization of the MWNT - arrows
depict the MWNT present within the cytoplasmic vacuoles of a HEK; (b)
keratinocyte monolayer grown on a Permanox surface - arrow depicts
the intracytoplasmic localization of the MWNT. Reprinted with
permission from Elsevier (Smart et al., 2006).
mass transport to guide tissue regeneration. To achieve the goal of tissue
regeneration, scaffolds must meet certain specific needs. A high porosity and
an adequate pore size are necessary to facilitate cell seeding and diffusion
throughout the entire structure of both cells and nutrients (Rezwan et al.,
2006).
Nanocomposite 3D scaffolds based on biopolymers have been developed
using different processing methods. Popular techniques include solvent
casting and porogen (particulate) leaching, gas foaming, emulsion freeze-
drying, electrospinning, rapid prototyping and thermally-induced phase
separation (Nejati et al., 2008; Kretlow and Mikos, 2007; Rezwan et al.,
2006; Ma, 2004; Bognitzki et al., 2001; Nam and Park, 1999; Van de Witte
et al., 1996; Whang et al., 1995; Goel and Beckman, 1994; Mikos et al,
1993).
