Micro- and Nanoscale Control of Cellular Environment for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is a potentially powerful approach for restoring organ functionality and overcoming the shortage of transplantable organs. In tissue engineering, the principles of engineering and life sciences are used to develop biological substitutes, typically composed of biological and synthetic components that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function [1]. Although relatively simple tissues such as cartilage and skin have already been successfully engineered, many basic challenges persist in the engineering of more complex tissues. These challenges – which include the generation of vascularized tissues and complex geometries – can be traced to our limited abilities to control the cellular environment at microand nanoscale resolution. Cells in the body reside in an environment that is regulated by cell–cell, cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell– soluble factor interactions presented in a spatially and temporally dependent manner (Figure 18.1). In order for tissue engineering to succeed, it is critical to reproduce these in-vivo factors outside the body. In this chapter we analyze the use of microand nanoscale engineering techniques for controlling and studying cell–cell, cell–substrate and cell–soluble factor interactions, as well as for fabricating organs with controlled architecture and resolution.