The Biocompatibility of the Scaffolds Reinforced by Fibers or Tubes for Tissue Repair

Protein adsorption on scaffolds is believed as the initial event happened before cell adhesion. The physiochemical properties of scaffolds regulate protein adsorption which further modulates cell adhesion and the subsequent cell responses, i.e. protein-cell interactions. In addition, scaffolds provide a temporary physical support for cells so that their mechanical properties determine the mechanical compatibility of scaffolds with the surrounding mechanical environment and the adhered cells. Scaffolds-protein interactions, protein-cell interactions and the mechanical compatibility of scaffolds dynamically interplay to control the scaffolds’ biocompatibility. Protein adsorption and mechanical compatibility are essentially determined by scaffolds themselves, which, however, have received insufficient attentions in 3D levels. Understanding the fundamentals on protein adsorption and mechanical compatibility is potentially helpful to scaffolds design. Fiber- or tube-reinforced scaffolds are featured with improved mechanical properties and altered architecture and chemical compositions when compared to their unreinforced counterparts. Moreover, fibers or tubes themselves provide parameters such as fiber or tube size and alignment to affect the protein adsorption and thus the biocompatibility of the reinforced scaffolds. Therefore, in this chapter, the effects of scaffold chemistries and pore structure, and fiber/tube size and alignment on protein adsorption were detailed, and the regulation of cell/tissue responses by mechanical properties of scaffolds was understood. In addition, the effects of scaffold architecture and biochemical cues on cell/tissue responses were included as well.