Tissue Engineering Biopolymers

Abstract

Tissue engineering has always been a multidisciplinary research area focused on tissue regeneration and restoration of organs function, through implantation of cells or tissues growing outside the body. According to increase in knowledge of the interactions between living organisms and biomaterials, development and diversification of biocompatible devices has brought the world of medicine to what has been the greatest therapeutic revolution of our times. The main challenge of biomaterials is not only related to "tolerance-biocompatibility" by the body but also in its functionality. A biomaterial must be able to positively interact with tissues and exercise those functions for which it was designed and implanted. In this work we evaluated biocompatibility of different polymers types; this activity was carried out in collaboration both LIMA Lto SpA and D.IN.I Palermo’s University. We tested several "scaffolds," characterized by different chemical / physical / structural parameters. HA-PLLA (L-polylactic acid added with hydroxyapatite), PLA-PEG (polylactic acid added to polyethylene glycol) and PLLA (L-polylactic acid), scaffolds, designed respectively to replace mineralized structures and "soft" tissue, as liver and tubular blood vessel like structures, supporting vascularization of biocompatible polymers. A critical parameter for tissue engineering is the rapid tissue neovascularization after in vivo implantation. Since supply of nutrients and oxygen are phenomena which often are limited to a diffusion process, insufficient vascularization can lead to hypoxia, and then the death of tissue. Use of angiogenic scaffolds could solve this problem and improve the success of the system. We test both the non-cytotoxicity of "scaffolds", as adhesion and cell proliferation inside them. Furthermore we evaluate the biodegradation degree in presence of cells . Our data shown do not induce cell toxicity, so they can be considered suitable for the application for the designed aimed.