Reinforced scaffold for tissue engineering

Wound healing is achieved via the synergistic effect of cells, growth factors, and scaffolds, all of which play important roles. Tissue engineering provides a promising solution for the repair of tissue defects. Scaffolds provide substrates to which cells can attach during the initial phase of repair that degrade after the completion of wound healing. Various natural materials, including collagen, hyaluronan, silk, and synthetic degradable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polycaprolactone (PCL), have been investigated extensively for their ability to support the growth of cells. However, scaffolds constructed from these compounds have various problems associated with their mechanical properties and biocompatibility. To obtain good repair, scaffolds should not only possess properties that support cell adhesion, growth, and differentiated function, but must also create a stable, three-dimensional structure with sufficient porosity and mechanical properties to facilitate repair. Specifically, a tissue-engineered scaffold should provide adequate mechanical strength during the initial stage of repair and be composed of a highly porous structure that provides an ideal environment for the migration and proliferation of cells. Additionally, the scaffold should be designed to withstand handling and suturing during surgical implantation.