Molecular Imprinting Strategies for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Tissue engineering (TE) aims to restore damaged tissues using biomaterial scaffolds and growth factors.
• A key challenge is creating scaffolds that replicate complex native tissue microenvironments to guide cell behavior.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a novel approach as synthetic receptors for biomolecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review strategies for designing and fabricating MIPs for biomedical applications.
• To highlight the potential of MIPs in scaffold-based TE.
• To showcase recent examples of MIPs in TE for biophysical cue delivery, drug delivery, and sequestration.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on MIP design and fabrication techniques.
• Analysis of MIP applications in scaffold-based tissue engineering.
• Case studies illustrating MIPs for controlled biomolecule interaction and delivery.

Main Results:

• MIPs can be synthesized to specifically recognize and bind target biomolecules.
• Incorporating MIPs into scaffolds enhances control over cell responses like migration and differentiation.
• MIPs facilitate the introduction of biophysical cues and enable controlled drug delivery within TE constructs.

Conclusions:

• MIPs represent a powerful tool for advancing scaffold-based tissue engineering.
• Their ability to mimic biological recognition enhances cell-material interactions and tissue regeneration.
• MIPs offer versatile applications in TE, including targeted delivery and sequestration of bioactive molecules.