Production and Surface Modification of Polylactide-Based Polymeric Scaffolds for Soft-Tissue Engineering

Current research in the field of tissue engineering is focused on the development of appropriate strategies for repair and regeneration of biological tissues. Biological tissues consist of cells situated within a complex molecular framework known as the extracellular matrix (ECM) with an integrated vascular system for oxygen or nutrient supply. In soft tissues, native ECMs consist mainly of collagens, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), laminins, and fibronection (1 ).