Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: The Importance of Collagen

Abstract

Tissue engineering focuses on developing replacement tissues and organs to maintain, restore, or improve their function. To achieve this goal, an optimal scaffold is required to promote cell growth and biomolecules release involved in the repair process. In tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides spatial and mechanical cues to cells and physical support. Therefore, creating a scaffold that mimics the ECM of a tissue or organ of interest to facilitate its repair represents an urgent need. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the ECM and is essential for maintaining the biological and structural integrity of the tissue as well as providing physical support. Collagen-based scaffolds can be obtained from a decellularized collagen matrix, preserving the original tissue shape and ECM structure, or by extracting, purifying, and polymerizing collagen alone or with other natural or biosynthetic polymers and ceramics, which can be chemically or physically cross-linked, modified with natural/synthetic polymers or inorganic materials, or supplemented with biochemical factors. The properties of collagen for obtaining tissue engineering products and the intellectual property of collagen-based scaffolds in clinical trials and patents are discussed. Here, we described the importance of collagen for tissue and organ repair.