Smart biomaterials for tissue engineering of cartilage.

Full Abstract

Biological regeneration using cartilage tissue engineering in which cells are grown on biomaterial scaffolds and then implanted into the cartilage defects could provide new treatment options for articular cartilage defects. This review aims to give an overview of the wide variety of biomaterials that are currently developed as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Emphasis will be placed on the current development of the materials that are able to direct cell differentiation and metabolism. These so-called "smart" biomaterials are produced by modifying the physical properties of the scaffolds using peptide sequences and most importantly by developing materials that can deliver proteins to enhance tissue regeneration. Besides providing drug delivery systems, the materials respond to environmental stimuli or release their cargo on cellular demand. However, critical issues remain, such as the transferability of basic science insights to clinical products and the applicability of certain data sets to human patients.

Author information

Author/s: Stoop, Reinout (R);

Affiliation: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany. reinout.stoop(-atsign-)tno.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Injury (Injury), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 39 Suppl 1 (issue ) : pp S77-87

Dates: Created 2008/03/03; Completed 2009/01/22;

PMID: 18313475, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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