Proteins: Natural Polymers for Tissue Engineering

Regeneration and restoration of normal function of damaged tissues requires support of tissue engineering scaffolds. In a search for ideal scaffolds, researchers have investigated a broad range of materials and employed a variety of fabrication methods. Among biological materials, proteins, which exhibit the requisite biocompatibility and biodegradability, have been extensively studied and evaluated for practical applications in tissue engineering. Low strength and stability, and, in some cases, availability, are disadvantages associated with protein-based materials that may restrict their use. Organs demand specific physicochemical properties in tissue scaffolds, which require development of construction methods that best facilitate regeneration. Scaffold material and its fabrication specific to the target tissue is crucial. We review protein materials that have been studied for tissue regeneration applications and report their characteristics, differences, potential for tissue regeneration, and associated challenges and limitations.