Self-Assembled Biomimetic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Cranial, maxillofacial, and oral fractures, as well as large bone defects, are currently being treated by auto- and allograft procedures. These techniques have limitations such as immune response, donor-site morbidity, and lack of availability. Therefore, the interest in tissue engineering applications as replacement for bone graft has been growing rapidly. Typical bone tissue engineering models require a cell-supporting scaffold in order to maintain a 3-dimensional substrate mimicking in vivo extracellular matrix for cells to attach, proliferate and function during the formation of bone tissue. Combining the understanding of molecular and structural biology with materials engineering and design will enable new strategies for developing biological tissue constructs with clinical relevance. Self-assembled biomimetic scaffolds are especially suitable as they provide spatial and temporal regulation. Specifically, self-assembling peptides capable of in situ gelation serve as attractive candidates for minimally invasive injectable therapies in bone tissue engineering applications.