Polymer Nanocomposites Used as Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Scaffolds are three-dimensional biocompatible structures that can mimic the properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a given tissue, like mechanical support and bioactivity, which provides a platform for cellular adherence, proliferation and differentiation. Consequently, scaffolds are frequently used in tissue engineering with the intention of assisting the regeneration of a damaged tissue, and a major application in bone regeneration. An ideal scaffold needs to be biodegradable, biocompatible, and needs to match the biomechanical properties of bone. Polymers are widely used in this field because they fulfil the first two requirements. However, no polymeric material can achieve mechanical properties similar to the bone. For that reason, polymeric nanocomposites, which consist of ceramic/metallic nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix, are being considered for bone scaffold fabrication in order to overcome this problem, since nanoparticles are known to improve composite mechanical strength, and enhance other properties.