The Application of Alginate Scaffold in Neural Tissue Engineering

Alginate is a natural substance derived from the brown seaweed. Alginate scaffold as a biomaterial has numerous applications in tissue engineering. It has favorable properties such as biocompatibility and highly porous scaffold organization and provides mechanical framework for cells. Furthermore, alginate hydrogel has been used as an injectable vehicle for cell culture or drug delivery. Alginate scaffold can fill cavities in the injured brain and spinal cord and provide the framework for regrowth and attachment of axons. Conclusion: Alginate scaffold maintains structural similarity to the extracellular matrices in different tissues. By proper manipulation of alginate structure, it may play several critical roles in neural tissue engineering.