title: Micro/nano replication and 3D assembling techniques for scaffold fabrication.
abstract: The development of tissue engineering field entails the creation of micro/nanoscale features for cellular alignment and biocompatibility improvement. As replication techniques, hot embossing and soft lithography can be used to produce micro/nanoscale features on biodegradable membranes. Subsequently the generation of 3D scaffolds can be done by means of assembling techniques. Using the described techniques, high resolution of features, as small as 5 nm, can be achieved. Nevertheless membrane assembling must be fully studied to avoid feature fluctuations and even collapse of the scaffold. The present review focuses on the state-of-the-art in the replication techniques used to create micro/nanoscale features on biodegradable polymers and assembling approaches to construct scaffolds with the aim of exploring existing advances and limitations of the reported methods.
authors: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Taipas, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Lima
authors: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Taipas, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: vitorcorrelo@dep.uminho.pt.
authors: V M
authors: VM
authors: Correlo
authors: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Taipas, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal.
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Reis
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
keywords: Hot embossing; Micro/nanofabrication; Patterning; Scaffolds; Soft lithography