Macroporous polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

A paradigm shift is taking place in medicine from using synthetic implants and tissue grafts to a tissue engineering approach that uses degradable porous material scaffolds integrated with biological cells or molecules to regenerate tissues. This new paradigm requires scaffolds that balance temporary mechanical function with mass transport to aid biological delivery and tissue regeneration [1]. Currently there are three approaches used in tissue engineering, the rst one requires delivery of the appropriate cells at the defect site. The second and third approach requires a biodegradable scaffold with or without cells to be implanted at the defect site, which.