Lactide-Based Poly(ethylene glycol) Polymer Networks for Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering has recently attracted a great deal of attention for its potential in repairing, reconstructing, regenerating, or replacing tissues in damaged or diseased organs. A number of tissues and organs have already been investigated using this approach, including cartilage, liver, skin, bone, tendon, ureter, intestine, pancreas, and blood vessels. One approach in tissue engineering employs a hybrid system combining biomaterials as structural scaffolds to organize living cells into a desired structure in vitro or in vivo. Polymers for these scaffolds require good biocompatibility, suitable biodegradability, and the ability to interact specifically with appropriate cells.