Biomaterials - From Engineered Scaffolds to Potential Synthetic Organs: A Review

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Biodegradable materials have played a significant role in the construction of numerous types of scaffolds for tissue regeneration applications. Over the years several fabrication techniques have been developed for the preparation of three dimensional scaffolds with high affinities toward specific cell lines. This review chapter provides a succinct overview of some of the key aspects involved in engineering scaffolds that have been applied to three varied types of tissues- namely bone, skin and the myocardium. We have discussed some of the methods involved in the formation of highly fine-tuned biomaterials that can mimic natural tissues and encourage the regeneration of a desired tissue. It is expected that a combination of the appropriate scaffold material with ideal mechanical, electrical, and biological properties, along with biomedical imaging and computer generated datasets, will revolutionize the field of tissue engineering and bring us closer to the development of functional organs.