ABSTRACT
Tissue interfaces are the regions between two divergent tissues that act as a transition point in structure, function, and composition. They are required for proper tissue function, but when injured, can be very difficult to regenerate. Recently, interface tissue engineering has emerged as a new focus for researchers in the field of regenerative medicine. In interface tissue engineering, many traditional tissue engineering strategies have been employed, while other strategies incorporating micro-and nanotechnologies have been modified or newly developed to meet the specific needs of interface development. This chapter will begin by discussing the use of in vitro two-and three-dimensional co-culture to study cellular communication mediated by both soluble factor exchange and cell-cell contacts. Then, current types and fabrication methods of scaffolds/constructs for interface tissue engineering will be
described. With rapidly developing innovative platforms for both in vitro and in vivo study, interface tissue engineering strategies promise to offer both researchers and clinicians excellent resources for interface reconstruction and repair. 4.1 Introduction
Tissue interfaces are prevalent in the body and are necessary for proper tissue function [79]. These interfaces can occur between organ systems, such as between neural and vascular interfaces and other tissues, or between two disparate tissue types of the same organ, such as within orthopaedic interfaces. Critical to almost all tissues, the vascular interface provides the required blood supply to support tissue function, and in its absence, tissues suffer hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, waste product accumulation, and signaling disruption [2]. Another interface between organs is the neural interface, the regeneration of which has been an area of intense study with the aim of regenerating function over large nerve gaps, currently difficult to achieve [22]. Finally, interfaces between two tissues, such as orthopedic interfaces, involve two tissue types with drastically different biological and mechanical properties. Examples include bone-ligament/tendon, muscle-tendon, and the osteochondral interface, all of which are difficult to repair (Fig. 4.1) [79]. In common to all of these interfaces is the difficulty in their regeneration, due to the multiple cell types and dissimilar extracellular matrix (ECM) [79].
