Scaffolds and Tissue Engineering

Scaffold is a commonly used term for a supporting structure. Similarly scaffolds biologically are extra cellular matrix that support and keep the cells viable by nutritional supply, receptor stimulation and signaling pathways. National foundation in 1998 has coined the term tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is concerned with the development of various biological tissues as an alternative functioning to the normal tissues. Accordingly tissue engineering may be defined as the development of scaffolds or materials with in the cells for the repair of damaged organs or tissue. Tissue engineering assists for the development of structures like vessels, bladder, liver, pancreas skin and muscle etc. Scaffolds are either biodegradable or bio stable. Bio degradable scaffolds highly porous and acts as base or seeding of cells and for growth of tissues and vessels. 3D bio degradable scaffolds are preferable than 2D as the earlier mimics natural environment and a steady state like that of tissues organs. However vascular tissues like bone and cartilage are also developed by tissue engineering.