title: Smart materials as scaffolds for tissue engineering.
abstract: In this review, we focused our attention on the more important natural extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules (collagen and fibrin), employed as cellular scaffolds for tissue engineering and on a class of semi-synthetic materials made from the fusion of specific oligopeptide sequences, showing biological activities, with synthetic materials. In particular, these new "intelligent" scaffolds may contain oligopeptide cleaving sequences specific for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), integrin binding domains, growth factors, anti-thrombin sequences, plasmin degradation sites, and morphogenetic proteins. The aim was to confer to these new "intelligent" semi-synthetic biomaterials, the advantages offered by both the synthetic materials (processability, mechanical strength) and by the natural materials (specific cell recognition, cellular invasion, and the ability to supply differentiation/proliferation signals). Due to their characteristics, these semi-synthetic biomaterials represent a new and versatile class of biomimetic hybrid materials that hold clinical promise in serving as implants to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: IX Division of General Surgery and Applied Biotechnology, Department of Anaesthesological, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000639:trends*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D009842:Oligopeptides