20 - Fibrin matrices in tissue engineering

Abstract

Publisher Summary Tissue engineering scaffolds present structural and biological cues to guide cell attachment, differentiation and function. The microarchitecture of an ideal scaffold should facilitate transport of gases, nutrients, peptides and macromolecules needed for cellular activities and tissue development. Scaffold materials must be non-toxic and non-immunogenic; be mechanically compatible with the biological environment; and undergo biodegradation at the appropriate time. From a practical perspective, the materials should be readily available, easy to produce reliably and reproducibly, and well recognized by regulatory agencies due to extensive documentation in human use. Among the multitude of substances that are currently being used for scaffolds, fibrin appears to be a suitable scaffold material that satisfies many of the above criteria in a wide range of biological indications. Fibrin is nature's scaffold following tissue injury to initiate hemostasis, and provides the initial matrix into which cells invade to rebuild the damaged tissue. Fibrin facilitates cell adherence, migration and biochemical interactions. As cells invade and proliferate inside the fibrin scaffold, they secrete proteases that break down fibrin. These cells also secrete specific extracellular matrix molecules, such as collagen, to remodel the damaged tissues. The availability and relative ease of isolating and purifying fibrinogen and thrombin, the key coagulation factors that form the fibrin polyfibrils, make fibrin an attractive material for use in tissue engineering.