Biopolymer-based scaffolds: Development and biomedical applications

A scaffold serves as structural support for cell attachment which further leads to the development of tissues. The design of a scaffold is an important prototype to allow the attachment of the cells, to retain the integrity of the cells, as well as to have the required mechanical strength to have a beneficial impact on the organ. Recent trends in research suggest that biopolymer-based scaffolds have indicated great biocompatibility and are excellent mimics of the extracellular matrix systems. This chapter elucidates the various properties and types of scaffolds, methods of fabrication of such scaffolds, the most suitable biopolymers that have been used to design the scaffolds, and their recent applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery.