Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine: Designing Cutting-Edge Polysaccharide Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
摘要
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) rely on three pivotal components: scaffolds, cells, and growth signaling molecules. Scaffolds play a paramount role by offering structural support for cell growth, facilitating the spatiotemporal release of biomolecules, and coordinating tissue growth and regeneration. Polysaccharides have emerged as versatile scaffolds in tissue regeneration due to their excellent biocompatibility and inherent structural characteristics. Comprising components found in the natural extracellular matrix, such as glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins, polysaccharide compounds provide vital biological cues that foster cell growth and promote tissue regeneration. Beyond their remarkable biological properties, polysaccharides boast abundant sources, diverse functionalities, and easy tunability. Recent strides in molecular understanding and advancements in material fabrication technologies have enabled the creation of intricate 3D structures with desirable properties. The latest advancements in the extensively researched polysaccharide-based scaffolds for TERM, with a particular emphasis on those constructing advanced architectures tailored for tissue regeneration, are discussed herein. Polysaccharides are thus experiencing growing exploration and utilization in the realm of TERM.