Polymers in Regenerative Medicine: Biomedical Applications from Nano– to Macro–Structures

Biomedical applications of Polymers from Scaffolds to Nanostructures The ability of polymers to span wide ranges of mechanical properties and morph into desired shapes makes them useful for a variety of applications, including scaffolds, self–assembling materials, and nanomedicines. With an interdisciplinary list of subjects and contributors, this book overviews the biomedical applications of polymers and focuses on the aspect of regenerative medicine. Chapters also cover fundamentals, theories, and tools for scientists to apply polymers in the following ways: – Matrix protein interactions with synthetic surfaces – Methods and materials for cell scaffolds – Complex cell–materials microenvironments in bioreactors – Polymer therapeutics as nano–sized medicines for tissue repair – Functionalized mesoporous materials for controlled delivery – Nucleic acid delivery nanocarriers Concepts include macro and nano requirements for polymers as well as future perspectives, trends, and challenges in the field. From self–assembling peptides to self–curing systems, this book presents the full therapeutic potential of novel polymeric systems and topics that are in the leading edge of technology.

Preface Contributors Chapter 1 Polymers as materials for tissue engineering scaffolds Chapter 2 Natural–based and stimuli–responsive Polymers for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Chapter 3 Matrix protein interactions with synthetic surfaces Chapter 4 Focal adhesion kinase in cell–material interactions Chapter 5 Complex cell–materials microenvironments in bioreactors Chapter 6 Self–curing systems for regenerative medicine Chapter 7 Self–Assembling Peptides as Synthetic Extracellular Matrices Chapter 8 Polymer Therapeutics as Nano–sized Medicines for Tissue Regeneration and Repair Chapter 9 How regenerative medicine can benefit from nucleic acids delivery nanocarriers? Chapter 10 Functionalized Mesoporous Materials with gate–like scaffoldings for controlled delivery Chapter 11 Where are we going? Future trends and challenges

Manuel Monleón   Pradas is Founding director of the Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at the Technical University of Valencia, as well as and Head of the Biomaterials Unit at the Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (Valencia). He has been visiting professor at the University of Paris–XI and authored or coauthored over 160 papers in the fields of polymer science and biomaterials science. María J. Vicent  is head of the Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory at Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (Valencia). She has expertise in several aspects of Polymer Therapeutics field, from synthesis of nanopharmaceutics up to their biological evaluation in different cell and in vivo models. Dr Vicent has coauthored over 70 papers and 7 patents in the field. Furthermore, in 2012, she co–founded a Spin–Off company named ‘Polypeptide Therapeutic Solutions SL’ based on a family patent from her own group.