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Nanofibrous hydrogel composites as mechanically robust tissue engineering scaffolds.
- Source :
-
Trends in Biotechnology . Nov2014, Vol. 32 Issue 11, p564-570. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Hydrogels closely resemble the extracellular matrix (ECM) and can support cell proliferation while new tissue is formed, making them materials of choice as tissue engineering scaffolds. However, their sometimes-poor mechanical properties can hinder their application. The addition of meshes of nanofibers embedded in their matrix forms a composite that draws from the advantages of both components. Given that these materials are still in the early stages of development, there is a lack of uniformity across methods for characterizing their mechanical properties. Here, we propose a simple metric to enable comparisons between materials. The fibrous constituent improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, while the biocompatibility and functionality of the gels are maintained or even improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01677799
- Volume :
- 32
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Trends in Biotechnology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 99060986
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.09.001