Abstract
Tissue Engineering (TE) represents a promising solution to fabricate engineered constructs able to restore tissue damage after implantation. In the classic TE approach, biomaterials are used alongside growth factors to create a scaffolding structure that supports cells during the construct maturation. A current challenge in TE is the creation of engineered constructs able to mimic the complex microenvironment found in the natural tissue, so as to promote and guide cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this context, the introduction inside the scaffold of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)—synthetic receptors able to reversibly bind to biomolecules—holds great promise to enhance the scaffold-cell interaction. In this review, we analyze the main strategies that have been used for MIP design and fabrication with a particular focus on biomedical research. Furthermore, to highlight the potential of MIPs for scaffold-based TE, we present recent examples on how MIPs have been used in TE to introduce biophysical cues as well as for drug delivery and sequestering.
Highlights
The biocompatible capsules were imprinted with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the results showed that they presented higher BCs (1.5–3 mg/g) when compared to other imprinting techniques [62]
The results showed that the imprinted particles could bind to the IgG much better than the non-imprinted ones; the selectivity to the protein was increased when exposing the imprinted and non-imprinted nanoparticles to albumin and hemoglobin as competitor molecules [80]
We provided an analysis of the basis for scaffold-based Tissue Engineering (TE) and of the rational design for molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) production
Summary
The design and fabrication of new materials showing improved biological performance (e.g., cell and tissue compatibility, antibody mimicking) is the challenge that biomaterial scientists are currently facing In this context, an interesting research trend is the fabrication of synthetic receptors that show an affinity and specificity similar to those found in biological systems. An interesting research trend is the fabrication of synthetic receptors that show an affinity and specificity similar to those found in biological systems Such receptors, obtained by transferring molecular or structural information from a substance of interest to a synthetic polymer, can enable the fabrication of new, smarter, and customizable biomaterials that are able to recognize and selectively rebind toxins, cytokines, or growth factors (GFs). A further, even more stimulating step forward in this direction could be gained by creating polymeric systems that are able to selectively recognize more complex structures as double-stranded DNAs, viruses, bacteria, or even cells
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