Innovative Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

In the field of regenerative medicine, biomaterials play a crucial role since they may serve as a support (scaffold) to promote cell growth and differentiation in order to promote the healing of tissue lesion. The aim of this chapter will be to analyze the properties of more recent biomaterials suitable for tissue engineering strategies, to end to define better and innovative materials for scaffold production. To this purpose, we will analyze the main materials (natural and synthetic) and their characteristics, such as biocompatibility, bioactivity, and biodegradation, and it will be discussed how their chemical-physical properties (surface morphology, porosity, stiffness, and mechanical strength) could affect the interaction with cells and living system. Moreover, the chapter will be focused on methods of extraction or production of biomaterial suitable for scaffolds.

Biological Responses of Ceramic Bone Spacers Produced by Green Processing of Additively Manufactured Thin Meshes

“…Once the samples are ready for implantation, the biggest pores (peripheral windows) are expected to have dimensions under 400 µm × 400 µm, with smaller pores closer to the driving axis of the cylinder. This morphology is within the values recommended in the literature for bone tissue engineering [11]. The porosity of the part will be connected in the periphery of the implant, allowing the particles of the implantation medium to move axially (in channels) and around the cylinder.…”

“…Metals are widely utilized, mainly low carbon steels and titanium alloys. Ceramic materials are used as well, such as Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO 2 ), aluminium oxide (alumina, Al 2 O 3 ), alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ), [5][6][7][8] hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) [9,10], calcium aluminates (C3A) and titanium oxides (TiO 2 ), among others [11]. In addition, polymers such as Teflon, nylon, silicones, and some others, as well as new material compositions that are tailored developed according to specifications, including nanomaterials, metal-carbon or metal-nitrogen ceramics, and other intermetallic alloys are used [12].…”

Osteoconductive and Osteoinductive Surface Modifications of Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration: A Concise Review

“…Biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications should comply with several basic structural, mechanical, and biological requirements due to their crucial role in the bone regeneration process Biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications should comply with several basic structural, mechanical, and biological requirements due to their crucial role in the bone regeneration process (Figure 1). The microstructure of developed biomaterials and their mechanical characteristics should be tailored to anatomical implantation site [6]. The three-dimensional porous structure of the bone implant, with interconnected and open porosity, accelerates the bone regeneration process by ensuring good oxygen and nutrients diffusion and waste products elimination, as well as by providing space for proliferation of the cells and newly formed blood vessels [5,7,8].…”

“…Concerning mechanical properties of the biomaterials, the implanted scaffold should possess strength and stiffness similar to surrounding bone tissue [9]. Taking into account the main requirements of the biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications, special attention should be paid to their biological characteristics, such as biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity [6,10,11]. The biocompatibility represents the ability of the scaffold to perform appropriate host response without side effects, like cytotoxicity, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, immunogenicity, and genotoxicity [5,12].…”

“…Importantly, bone scaffolds should be preferably biodegradable to provide space for newly-formed bone tissue. Moreover, biomaterial degradation products should be nontoxic against other tissues [6]. Another very important feature of the bone scaffolds is their bioactivity, which is defined as the ability of implanted biomaterials to form bone-like apatite crystals on their surfaces, which is critical for good implant osseointegration with host tissue [10,14].…”