This PhD thesis sets in tissue engineering (TE), a discipline which, starting from the principles of biology, medicine and engineering, it aims to restore, maintain, or enhance tissue and organ function. TE is performed following mainly three approaches: genetic engineering, cell therapy and scaffold/cells construct. The present work is focused on the latter approach for the regeneration of the osteochondral tissue and, in particular, to the fabrication of chitosan-based scaffolds by using electrospinning and phase separation techniques. Among natural polymers, polysaccharides are a biomaterial class widely used for TE applications, mainly because of the critical role of saccharide moieties in numerous cell-signaling schemes and in the area of immune modulation; they affect also the process of extra cellular matrix (ECM) formation, by modulating the activities of molecules signaling and mediating certain intercellular signals. They are also biodegradable, hydrophilic, present a low toxicity, and could be synthesized by using several techniques. One of the most promising polysaccharide used for TE applications is chitosan, a deacetylated derivative of chitin, because of its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to promote cell adhesion. Given its polycationic behavior, it can also be conjugated with a bioceramic (i.e. hydroxyapatite) or bioactive glasses by spontaneous electrostatic bond. Moreover, it can be easily processed and tailored in various shapes, including beads, films, sponges, tubes, powders, and fibers. To obtain a suitable construct, respecting all the requirements needed to successfully regenerate a complex interface tissue, like the osteochondral one, a great effort has been required in terms of integration of biomaterials (i.e. combined used of polymers and ceramics), fabrication techniques (to reproduce the native morphological structure of different tissue), and cell signaling.

Chitosan-based scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering: comparison of fabrication and functionalization techniques and scaffolds characterization / Liliana Liverani , 2012 Mar 20. 24. ciclo

Chitosan-based scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering: comparison of fabrication and functionalization techniques and scaffolds characterization

2012-03-20

Abstract

This PhD thesis sets in tissue engineering (TE), a discipline which, starting from the principles of biology, medicine and engineering, it aims to restore, maintain, or enhance tissue and organ function. TE is performed following mainly three approaches: genetic engineering, cell therapy and scaffold/cells construct. The present work is focused on the latter approach for the regeneration of the osteochondral tissue and, in particular, to the fabrication of chitosan-based scaffolds by using electrospinning and phase separation techniques. Among natural polymers, polysaccharides are a biomaterial class widely used for TE applications, mainly because of the critical role of saccharide moieties in numerous cell-signaling schemes and in the area of immune modulation; they affect also the process of extra cellular matrix (ECM) formation, by modulating the activities of molecules signaling and mediating certain intercellular signals. They are also biodegradable, hydrophilic, present a low toxicity, and could be synthesized by using several techniques. One of the most promising polysaccharide used for TE applications is chitosan, a deacetylated derivative of chitin, because of its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to promote cell adhesion. Given its polycationic behavior, it can also be conjugated with a bioceramic (i.e. hydroxyapatite) or bioactive glasses by spontaneous electrostatic bond. Moreover, it can be easily processed and tailored in various shapes, including beads, films, sponges, tubes, powders, and fibers. To obtain a suitable construct, respecting all the requirements needed to successfully regenerate a complex interface tissue, like the osteochondral one, a great effort has been required in terms of integration of biomaterials (i.e. combined used of polymers and ceramics), fabrication techniques (to reproduce the native morphological structure of different tissue), and cell signaling.
20-mar-2012
Chitosan-based scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering: comparison of fabrication and functionalization techniques and scaffolds characterization / Liliana Liverani , 2012 Mar 20. 24. ciclo
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12610/68369
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