Porous biomaterial scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a severe traumatic injury overwhelming natural skeletal muscle repair.
• VML leads to significant loss of muscle function and mechanical integrity.
• Tissue engineering offers a promising approach to regenerate VML injuries using biomaterial scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review fabrication methods for porous biomaterial scaffolds used in skeletal muscle regeneration.
• To summarize the diverse materials employed in scaffold development for VML.
• To provide guidelines for scaffold design based on skeletal muscle functional requirements.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on biomaterial scaffold fabrication techniques.
• Analysis of natural, synthetic, and conductive polymers for scaffold construction.
• Evaluation of scaffold porosity as a critical factor for myoblast infiltration and myofiber ingrowth.

Main Results:

• Various fabrication methods exist for creating porous scaffolds.
• A range of natural, synthetic, and conductive polymers are utilized.
• Scaffold porosity is crucial for successful skeletal muscle regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Porous biomaterial scaffolds are essential for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.
• Fabrication techniques and material selection must consider functional requirements.
• The field is advancing towards restoring mechanical function after VML injuries.