Scaffold-Free Tissue Engineering Approaches in Biomedical Engineering: A Mini-Review Volume 59- Issue 3

Muhammad Moazzam*

• MSc Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Received: November 01, 2024; Published: November 12, 2024

*Corresponding author: Muhammad Moazzam, MSc Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2024.59.009303

Abstract PDF

Tissue engineering aims to create functional tissues and organs for regenerative medicine. Traditional methods often rely on scaffolds— three-dimensional (3D) structures that provide support and guidance for cell growth [1-3]. However, scaffold-free tissue engineering approaches offer a novel paradigm by eliminating the need for external support structures, instead relying on natural cell behavior and self-organization.

There are following scaffold-free techniques are currently utilized:

Cell-Sheet Engineering

Cell sheet engineering is a pioneering scaffold-free technique in regenerative medicine that allows for the harvesting of intact cell sheets without enzymatic treatment. This method enhances cell viability and functionality, promoting applications in tissue repair and regeneration. Recent advancements in harvesting, transfer techniques, and cryopreservation further expand its potential in clinical and research settings. It has applications include skin, cardiac, and corneal tissues [4-6].

Cell Aggregation and Spheroid Formation

Spheroid engineering improves extracellular matrix synthesis and cell-cell interactions by creating three-dimensional cell aggregation that resemble tissue microenvironments. Applications in drug screening and disease modelling are made easier by the exact control over spheroid size and composition that may be achieved through the use of microfluidic techniques. Compared to conventional two-dimensional cultures, this approach provides better physiological relevance, which makes it useful for cancer research and regenerative medicine [7].

Organ Budding

The innate capacity of cells to form organ-like structures is exploited by organ budding techniques. For example, progenitor cells or embryonic stem cells have been used by researchers to create organ buds that mature into useful tissues. This technique has shown potential in producing pancreatic, liver, and kidney tissues [8].

Bioprinting Without Scaffolds

Scaffold-free bioprinting uses single-cell suspensions, spheroid aggregates, tissue strands, or cell sheets as building blocks instead of scaffolds. Cells can self-organize and assemble using this method without the need for outside assistance. Complex tissue constructions are produced by methods such as inkjet, extrusion, and laser-assisted bioprinting, which make it easier to fabricate vascularized tissues and elaborate designs [9-12].

Benefits

• The native cell-matrix interactions that scaffold-free techniques maintain are essential for tissue integration and functionality.

• The risk of foreign body reactions and immunological reactions can be reduced by avoiding synthetic scaffolds.

Cell sheet engineering and spheroid formation are two techniques that encourage natural cellular behaviours and produce tissue models that are more physiologically appropriate.

Challenges

• The intricacy of native tissues may not always be replicated by the self-organization of cells, which can be unpredictable.

• Large-scale tissue production without scaffolds is still difficult, especially for intricate organs that need structural support and vascularization.

• More research and validation are necessary to guarantee functional integration with the host tissue, especially for complex organ systems.

Future Prospective

Enhancing the scalability and predictability of scaffold-free approaches is the focus of more and more research. Advanced bioprinting methods, biomimetic settings, and cell reprogramming innovations all have the potential to solve current problems. Furthermore, hybrid solutions that leverage the benefits of each methodology may be possible by combining scaffold-free methods with bioprinting and other tissue engineering techniques.

In regenerative medicine, scaffold-free tissue engineering is a novel technique that uses self-organization and normal cellular behaviours to produce functioning tissues without the need for external support structures. Despite issues with structural stability, this approach offers promising improvements by improving biocompatibility and more closely resembling the design of organic tissue. Consequently, scaffold-free approaches are quickly becoming a transformational area of study for creating functioning, physiologically relevant tissues.

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