Abstract
Traditional applications of clay minerals mainly involve cosmetics, but currently the attention is devoted to tissue engineering. The interest is mainly due to the possibility to easily modify the composition and structure of clay minerals. In particular the structural flexibility, the small particle size, and the feasibility of preparing nanocomposites by using biopolymers furnish diverse possibilities in the pharmaceutical development of medical devices/drug delivery systems. Recently clay minerals have been proposed as substrates and matrices to enhance stem cell proliferation and differentiation including osteoinduction. In fact clay minerals demonstrated interactions with biomolecules, allowing new options for delivery of matrix proteins, growth factors, and genes in tissue regeneration; in addition, nanocomposites based on clay–polymer show evidenced improved mechanical properties. Moreover cells could interact with clays, suggesting new opportunities for functionalization of surfaces for enhanced reparative response. This chapter focuses on the properties of clay materials and their use in tissue regeneration, repair and bioengineering fields. Attention is devoted to the biomedical applications in wound healing and reparative medicine of clay minerals.
Published Version
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