Vision for Functionally Decorated and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Regenerative Engineering

Abstract

The emerging field of regenerative engineering offers a great challenge and an even greater opportunity for materials scientists and engineers. How can we develop materials that are highly porous to permit cellular infiltration, yet possess sufficient mechanical integrity to mimic native tissues? How can we retain and deliver bioactive molecules to drive cell organization, proliferation, and differentiation in a predictable manner? In the following perspective, we highlight recent studies that have demonstrated the vital importance of each of these questions, as well as many others pertaining to scaffold development. We posit hybrid materials synthesized by molecular decoration and molecular imprinting as intelligent biomaterials for regenerative engineering applications. These materials have potential to present cell adhesion molecules and soluble growth factors with fine-tuned spatial and temporal control, in response to both cell-driven and external triggers. Future studies in this area will address a pertinent clinical need, expand the existing repertoire of medical materials, and improve the field’s understanding of how cells and materials respond to one another.

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

“…The range of advanced biomaterial characteristics currently available in hydrogels may translate to novel scaffold surface modifications ( Figure 5). These advanced characteristics include environmentally responsive hydrogels, gels that can present varying degrees of surface elasticity, molecularly imprinted polymers, cellularly imprinted polymers, and more (Clegg, Wechsler, & Peppas, 2017;Culver, Clegg, & Peppas, 2017;Engler, Sen, Sweeney, & Discher, 2006;Peppas & Clegg, 2016). Such modifications will provide opportunities for more finely tuned characterization of cell responses to properties such as dynamic mechanical moduli and advanced controlled release of growth factors.…”

“…Hydrogels are cross‐linked, insoluble polymers that absorb large amounts of water. These polymers have a high degree of chemical design flexibility, supporting a variety of biomimetic systems (Clegg, Wechsler, & Peppas, ; De Witte, Fratila‐Apachitei, Zadpoor, & Peppas, ; Neves et al, ). In fact, hydrogels actively respond to the environment based on mechanisms such as pH‐dependent swelling and molecular sensing (Clegg et al, ; Peppas & Van Blarcom, ).…”

“…These polymers have a high degree of chemical design flexibility, supporting FIGURE 1 Repeating unit chemical structure of three aliphatic polyester polymers commonly used for tissue engineering scaffolds. These polymers are highly hydrophobic and provide limited functional group availability for chemical reactivity with cells a variety of biomimetic systems (Clegg, Wechsler, & Peppas, 2017;De Witte, Fratila-Apachitei, Zadpoor, & Peppas, 2018;Neves et al, 2017).…”

Recent Advances in Smart Biomaterials for the Detection and Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

“…Polymeric hydrogels are frequently studied for advancements in drug delivery and tissue engineering and are commonly prepared either through the polymerization of desirable functional monomers to synthesize highly tunable synthetic polymer systems or through crosslinking of naturally derived polymers that offer excellent biocompatibility and degradation. [52] These hydrogels can be used as artificial extracellular matrices for the support and protection of encapsulated cells. [53,54] Also, nano-and microgel systems can be prepared for the protection of bioactive agents for drug delivery applications.…”

Soft‐Nanoparticle Functionalization of Natural Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…The presence of a cocktail of factors affecting biological processes at different stages of tissue development and maturation combined with proper oxygenation, as well as nutrient transport result in the development and function of different tissues and organs in the human body . As discussed extensively by Clegg et al mimicking these properties in engineered tissue constructs, although desirable, is not trivial …”