Applications of Polymers in Tissue Engineering – A Review

Tissue engineering has developed as a groundbreaking field pointing to reestablish, repair, or recover damaged tissues and organs. Among the different materials utilized in tissue building, polymers have picked up critical consideration due to their flexible properties, tunability, and biocompatibility. Polymer scaffolds act as a 3D framework that forms the extracellular matrix, providing all kinds of support and guiding tissue growth. The choice of polymer materials, including natural polymers such as chitosan, collagen and synthetic polymers like polyethylene glycol (PEG), polylactic-co-glycolic acid, affects the biodegradability, mechanical strength and cellular interactions of the scaffold. Integration of manufacturing technologies such as electrospinning and 3D printing has increased the accuracy and complexity of scaffolds. Polymer-based drug delivery systems help to release medicine slowly, which can help tissues heal and reduce swelling. Special polymers that can respond to the body's signals can deliver medicine directly to the places it's needed. This makes the treatment work better and reduces bad effects.Additionally, polymers are important for protecting transplanted cells and helping them become part of the body's tissues. Hydrogels are a type of material that can hold a lot of water. They are good for holding cells because they are like natural tissue. Although we have made progress, there are still problems to solve. We need to make sure that polymer materials are strong and work well with our bodies. We also need to make sure they last a long time and don't cause a bad reaction from our immune system. Current studies are looking at making plastic mixtures better, trying out new ways to make them, and making new materials that are a mix of different things to solve these problems. This review mainly focuses on the application of polymers in the tissue engineering field and the current trends has been applied.