Multifunctional Polymer Based Structures for Human Tissues Reconstruction

Abstract

In the last few decades, the field of biomaterial both for tissue repair and regeneration has undergone to a profound innovation. The advent of novel polymer processing technologies along with reliable and robust finite element computing tools have been pivotal in the recent advancement in production and design of tissue repair devices such as hip joint prosthesis, bone fixation screws and plate, intramedullar pins, and ligament prosthesis. Current tissue repair material design is tailored to the specific application both in terms of geometrical constrains and biomechanical performances. Following a bioinspired approach, these materials at present are anisotropic and heterogeneous with point-wise engineered properties and provide a complete matches of performances with their native counterpart. On the other hand, the extraordinary discoveries of the last two decades on the molecular basis of the cell signaling have induced a substantial change in the conception of scaffold material for tissue regeneration. Novel bioactivated scaffolds, able to recapitulate extracellular matrix function in a temporally coordinated and spatially orchestrated manner, represent at present the forefront of the biomaterial research. The key issue here is to encode required biological signals within the scaffold so that all aspects of cell response—adhesion and migration, proliferation and phenotype choice—can be controlled. In achieving this objective nanotechnology, bottom-up design approach and solid free-form fabrication along with the exploitation of the self-assembly molecular machinery could play key roles. In this chapter, the main achievements in the design of biomaterials for both human tissue repair and regeneration will be presented and discussed along with future challenge.