Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites for tissue engineering: synthetic strategies and related applications

Abstract

Abstract Nanocomposite systems based on bioresorbable polymer matrices are emerging as new promising scaffolding materials for tissue engineering (TE) applications. Several solutions have been proposed for preparing biocompatible scaffolds, combining both natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers mainly with metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, and hydroxyapatite particles as filler materials. Depending on the considered system, the incorporation of the above-mentioned structures led to nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties, more controllable degradation rates, as well as outstanding biocompatible properties, strongly improving cells’ adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Notably, all these aspects resulted into rapid new tissue regeneration rates. The following chapter aims to present bioresorbable polymer matrices most commonly used for scaffolding production and their potential application to the field of TE. Besides their general properties and fabrication processes, the corresponding biocompatible behavior is carefully considered, both when used as single components or in combination with the above-mentioned filler materials as nanocomposite systems.