Fibrin – a promising material for vascular tissue engineering

Abstract

This review looks at the use of fibrin in vascular tissue engineering (VTE). Autologous fibrin is one of the most affordable biopolymers because it can be obtained from peripheral blood by simple techniques. A description and comparative analysis of the methods and approaches for producing fibrin gel is provided. The ability of fibrin to promote cell attachment and migration, survival and angiogenesis, to accumulate growth factors and release them in a controlled manner, are unique and extremely useful in VTE. Fibrin gels can serve as a three-dimensional matrix molded in different sizes and shapes to be applied in a variety of ways, including as a scaffold, coating, or impregnation material. Fibrin’s high porosity and biodegradability allows controllable release of growth factors, yet fibrinolysis must be tightly regulated to avoid side effects. We discuss the main methods of regulating the rate of fibrinolysis, as well as possible side effects of such exposure. Low mechanical strength is the main limitation in using fibrin as a scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. Possible options for increasing the strength properties of fibrin matrix and evaluating their effectiveness are presented. We propose that unique biocompatibility and ideal biodegradation profile of fibrin justify its use as a scaffold material for developing an ideal fully autologous small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular graft.

Stem cells and common biomaterials in dentistry: a review study

“…Fibrin is known as a non-toxic biomaterial scaffold connecting various biological surfaces to regenerate bone and nerve tissue [ 180 ]. Due to its low mechanical stiffness, fibrin scaffolds have limitations on directly implanting cells into damaged tissue [ 181 , 182 ]. A summary of the natural scaffolds in oral tissue engineering is presented in Table 2 .…”

Mimicking Native Heart Tissue Physiology and Pathology in Silk Fibroin Constructs through a Perfusion‐Based Dynamic Mechanical Stimulation Microdevice

“…The fabrication of in vitro CTs that can undergo the physiological cyclic compression of the native heart tissue when cultured in a mechanical stimuli‐based microenvironment requires substrate materials that can withstand the mechanical strain without compromising their biological properties. Biomaterials fabricated using natural polymers such as alginate, [ 1 ] gelatin, [ 2 ] collagen, [ 3 ] decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM), [ 1b,4 ] chitosan, [ 1a,3a ] and fibrin [ 5 ] though provide a native tissue‐like niche to the CMs but lack the required mechanical resilience for continuous mechanical stimulation. On the other hand, synthetic polymers such as poly‐caprolactone, [ 6 ] polyurethane, [ 7 ] poly( l ‐lactic acid), [ 8 ] polyvinyl alcohol, [ 9 ] used either alone or as reinforcing materials, have great mechanical properties and can offer both tenacity and agility required as cardiac substrates.…”