6 - Heparin-based nanocomposites for tissue engineering

Abstract

Since ancient times, human beings have been involved in manipulating objects present in their surroundings as per their requirements. With the advancement of science and technology, their ability to alter life has improved a lot. Tissue engineering is one among the ideas comprising principles of different branches of science, along with engineering and medical science, with the objective of developing and replacing dead or injured tissues and organs with a workable substitute. Use of biopolymers as biomaterials and matrices in tissue engineering applications provides significant opportunities in controlling biophysical and biochemical properties, morphology, structure, etc., as rational alternatives or imitators of extracellular matrix systems. It also regulates materials’ mechanical properties in fiber, gel, and scaffolds. In addition, biopolymers also control remodeling of tissue and cell both in vivo and in vitro. Owing to these functional attributes, biopolymers are playing a progressively more significant role in tissue engineering. This chapter provides an outline on the structure of heparin, its nanocomposite preparation, together with its working path followed at the cellular level for tissue repairing and application in tissue engineering.