ABSTRACT
The field of tissue engineering was born out of the need to reduce both the loss of life and debilitating effects resulting from the damage to, or malfunction of, human organs and tissues. It is a relatively new field that involves the repair and regeneration of biological tissue that can be guided through the application and control of cells, materials and growth factors. Several strategies have been developed in order to regenerate functional tissue, the majority of which involve the use of polymer scaffolds specifically designed to direct tissue growth. The cell transplantation method is one of the most commonly used in cartilage and bone formation. Collagen is a naturally occurring structural protein that binds to and surrounds the cells to form the extracellular matrix of cartilage (ECM). The role of the ECM is to provide the necessary physical and biological support to the cells during tissue formation.
