Study on the Effect of Scaffold Carriers on Tissue Repair and Rehabilitation in Cellular Environment
Scaffold carriers are three dimensional porous biomaterial structures that provide structural support, metabolic signalling and an appropriate cellular environment for tissue regeneration. This article covers the effects of scaffold carrier mechanisms on tissue healing and rehabilitation in three key tissue systems: bone and cartilage, skin and soft tissue and neural tissue. This review integrates principles of extracellular matrix (ECM) biomimicry, scaffold material classification frameworks and cell-scaffold mechanotransduction theory, and uses evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies to illustrate how the scaffold architecture, material composition, surface chemistry and degradation kinetics collectively dictate the cellular responses (adhesion, proliferation and directed differentiation) that underlie functional tissue regeneration. Major design challenges, such as immunogenicity, inadequate vascularisation and degradation–regeneration kinetic mismatch, are comprehensively discussed. Finally, the paper explores the emerging concept of stimulus-responsive smart scaffolds as the next-generation technique to dynamically recapitulate the natural ECM environment and overcome translational restrictions that now hinder clinical use.