ABSTRACT
The ultimate goal of tissue engineering is to generate physiologically functional tissues or organs in vitro to aid in repairing or replacing diseased or damaged tissues or organs of the body by using synthetic functional components called scaffolding materials, culturing them with appropriate cells that are harvested from patient or donor, and then reimplanting the engineered constructs in the patient’s body where the tissue regeneration is required [1,2]. Thus, scaffolding materials play a critical role in tissue engineering by serving as a synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) to provide temporary mechanical support for the cells and to subject them to conditions highly mimicking the native microenvironments that lead to tissue formation. The ECM is a highly hydrated, viscoelastic network of proteins and carbohydrates that holds cells together. Components of ECM network are comprised
CONTENTS
3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................55 3.2 Fabrication of Gradient Hydrogels ............................................................58
