Polymer functionalization as a powerful tool to improve scaffold performances

To address the increasing need for improved tissue substitutes, tissue engineering seeks to create synthetic, three-dimensional scaffolds made from polymeric materials, incorporating cells and growth factors to induce new tissue formation. Materials science, in conjunction with biotechnology, can satisfy these needs by developing artificial, synthetic substitutes and organ implants. Here, scaffold ability to promote cell growth and differentiation is a key point and, in this framework, orthogonal chemistry has led the field of biomaterial science into a new area of selective, versatile and biocompatible nature. In particular, the possibility to modify and functionalize scaffolds with compounds that are able to improve mechanical properties or cell viability and improve their differentiation in a tailorable manner opens new opportunities for researchers. In this review, we seek to emphasize the recent endeavors of exploiting this versatile chemistry toward the development of new cell culture scaffolds.