Biomimetic Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly of Nanofilms, Nanocoatings, and 3D Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2018-06, Vol.19 (6), p.1641
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shichao, Xing, Malcolm, Li, Bingyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; biomaterial; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Biomimetics; Bioreactors; Design engineering; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; layer-by-layer; multilayer; Multilayers; nanocoating; nanofilm; Nanostructures; polyelectrolyte; Review; scaffold; Scaffolds; Self-assembly; Stability; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061641

Achieving surface design and control of biomaterial scaffolds with nanometer- or micrometer-scaled functional films is critical to mimic the unique features of native extracellular matrices, which has significant technological implications for tissue engineering including cell-seeded scaffolds, microbioreactors, cell assembly, tissue regeneration, etc. Compared with other techniques available for surface design, layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technology has attracted extensive attention because of its integrated features of simplicity, versatility, and nanoscale control. Here we present a brief overview of current state-of-the-art research related to the LbL self-assembly technique and its assembled biomaterials as scaffolds for tissue engineering. An overview of the LbL self-assembly technique, with a focus on issues associated with distinct routes and driving forces of self-assembly, is described briefly. Then, we highlight the controllable fabrication, properties, and applications of LbL self-assembly biomaterials in the forms of multilayer nanofilms, scaffold nanocoatings, and three-dimensional scaffolds to systematically demonstrate advances in LbL self-assembly in the field of tissue engineering. LbL self-assembly not only provides advances for molecular deposition but also opens avenues for the design and development of innovative biomaterials for tissue engineering.