ABSTRACT
The eld of cardiovascular tissue engineering has utilized a variety of biomaterials, ranging from naturally derived materials and acellular tissue matrices to synthetic polymers, in order to facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. The use of naturally derived materials, such as collagen and brin, elicits minimal host immune response upon implantation. They also promote successful tissue decellularization that allows for the isolation of a complex mixture of extracellular matrix (ECM) components including structural and adhesive proteins and growth factors. Although synthetic biomaterials lack the biorecognition associated with native materials, they can usually be produced with minimal batch-to-batch variations in chemical and physical parameters. Furthermore, synthetic biomaterials provide a number of design variables that can be adjusted for optimal mechanical, chemical, and biological properties for a given application. Design criteria for these materials include adequate mechanical strength, controllable biodegradation rates and lack of toxic degradation products, integration into surrounding tissue without extensive in§ammatory response or support of infection, adequate support of cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, and the potential to deliver biological molecules.
