Tuning the biomimetic behavior of scaffolds for regenerative medicine through surface modifications

Abstract

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine rely extensively on biomaterial scaffolds to support cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation physically and chemically in vitro and in vivo. Changes to the surface characteristics of the scaffolds have the greatest impact on cell response. Here, we discuss five dominant surface modification approaches used to biomimetically improve the most common scaffolds for tissue engineering, those based on aliphatic polyesters. Scaffolds of aliphatic polyesters such as poly(L-lactic acid), poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), and poly(ε-caprolactone) are often used in tissue engineering because they provide desirable, tunable properties such as ease of manufacturing, good mechanical properties, and nontoxic degradation products. However, cell–surface interactions necessary for tissue engineering are limited on these materials by their smooth postfabrication surfaces, hydrophobicity, and lack of recognizable biochemical binding sites. The surface modification techniques that have been developed for synthetic polymer scaffolds reduce initial barriers to cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Topographical modification, protein adsorption, mineral coating, functional group incorporation, and biomacromolecule immobilization each contribute through varying mechanisms to improving cell interactions with aliphatic polyester scaffolds. Furthermore, rational combination of methods from these categories can provide nuanced, specific environments for targeted tissue development.

Role of Biomaterials and Controlled Architecture on Tendon/Ligament Repair and Regeneration

“…Figure b outlines the factors that have shown in literature to influence tenocyte/ligamentocyte response in vitro and in vivo. The behavior of tenocytes and ligamentocytes has been shown not only to be influenced by the presence of growth factors and drugs in a given medium, but also by material‐based factors such as substrate stiffness, topography, cell–material binding affinity and surface chemistry, strain profile, and hydrostatic pressure, as well as indirect factors such as ion release and other by‐products as a result of degradation. This progress report will describe and discuss the role of biomaterials both in the biological and mechanical context, and the role of fiber reinforcing architecture on material properties in the context of T/L repair and regeneration and finally the latest fiber patterning techniques used for T/L engineering.…”

Mass spectrometry in bioresorbable polymer development, degradation and drug‐release tracking

“…Biodegradable and bioresorbable polymers are widely used in medical applications to provide scaffolding for cell growth and proliferation as well as drug release . Consequently, the analysis of polymer surfaces can be relevant since biological events occur when the surface comes in contact with biological media.…”

Bi-Layered Polymer Carriers with Surface Modification by Electrospinning for Potential Wound Care Applications

“…Both materials (SA and PVA) are known to be biocompatible, biodegradable and good for the cells [67,68]. However, it is known that cells are able to sense the environment [69] and in addition to the material properties (internal chemical composition and the mechanical properties) [70], the material surface modification may change the behavior of the cells [71,72]. The overall idea of using surface modified structures is to stimulate the cells or their behavior.…”