Biologically Active Chitosan Systems for Regenerative Engineering

Pp: 385-414 (30)

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Abstract

Regenerative engineering has recently emerged as the next stage in the evolution of tissue engineering. Advanced materials science is a key component in regenerative engineering. Biologically active materials largely affect cell fate processes and tissue morphogenesis through chemical and biological cues carried by the materials. By physical adsorption of biomolecules on scaffold surface, physical entrapment of biomolecules in polymer microspheres or hydrogels, and chemical immobilization of oligopeptides or proteins on biomaterials, biologically active biomaterials and scaffolds can be derived. These bioactive systems show great potential in regenerative engineering in rendering bioactivity and/or specificity to scaffolds. This review highlights some of the biologically active chitosan systems for regenerative engineering and the associated strategies to develop such bioactive chitosan systems.

Keywords: Advanced materials, bioactive, biocompatibility, biodegradability, biomaterials, biomolecules, chitosan, drug delivery, functionality, growth factor, hydrogel, immobilization, nanoscale, nanotechnology, peptide, polymer, regenerative engineering, scaffolds, surface modification, tissue engineering.