Polymers in Tissue Engineering

Polymers display important roles in tissue engineering acting as precursors to synthesize materials that serve as scaffolds for drug delivery and cell growth, or in the creation of implants for regeneration or replacement of damaged organs and tissues. This importance relies on the remarkable properties of these macromolecules and their versatility to obtain scaffolds with desired characteristics and specific applications. This chapter describes the most featured aspects of polymers with application in tissue engineering including desired properties, types of polymers, synthetic methods and future challenges that scientific community must face in this interdisciplinary field.