Nanocomposites for Regenerative Medicine

This chapter describes properties and applications of nanocomposites in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with an emphasis on the impact of the nanophase on nanocomposite function. The nanophase can be used as a means to engineer new physical properties that improve the utility of tissue engineering scaffolds. Several examples of the use of the nanophase for mechanical reinforcement or drug delivery are discussed with an emphasis on understanding how nanoparticles are used to achieve the controlled release of macromolecules. Advances in nanotechnology, knowledge of mechanical reinforcement at the nanoscale level, and new strategies for controlled drug release will contribute to the next generation of nanocomposite-based scaffolds designed for regenerative medicine.