A mechanistic approach to design smart scaffolds for tissue engineering

This thesis describes a library of novel 3D scaffolds designed and optimized for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Tissue engineering aims at restoring or regenerating a deamaged tissue by combining cells, derived from a patient biopsy, with a 3D porous matrix, functioning as a scaffold. After isolation and eventual in vitro expansion, cells are seeded on the 3D scaffolds and, depending on the strategy, implanted directly or at a later stage in the patient¿s body.