Fiber structures for the regenerative medicine

Abstract

Abstract Regenerative medicine is a very promising field of research, which claims to heal damaged tissue instead of replacing it with artificial spare parts. Due to the mechanical behavior of fibers, similar to the fibrous structures most of our body tissues are made of, fibers are very biocompatible and suitable as carrier materials for cells and for the guided regeneration of tissues, mainly if the mechanical load is limited. Three examples demonstrate that for every tissue different properties of textiles and fibers are necessary. In liver regeneration the cell carrier must allow the attachment of the hepatocytes to one another for the formation of aggregates, otherwise the functionality of the cells is low. In cartilage regeneration the main challenge is the optimal degradation properties of the matrix for single cells allowing the unrestricted formation of a new matrix by the cells. In nerve regeneration structured fibers allow a faster outgrowth of new axons.