Common biocompatible polymeric materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Polymers play a vital role as a scaffold in tissue engineering. Polymers, as biomaterials, can mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cells and improve the biological behavior of cells in vitro and in vivo. In the meantime, biodegradable polymers are especially important for use in tissue engineering, since they can be removed from the environment in a manner consistent with cell growth and the formation of new tissue. For this purpose and depending on the type of tissue, there are various types of synthetic and biological polymers that can be used. Since, biological and synthetic materials alone have advantages and disadvantages, to improve the physicochemical and biological properties, various materials can be used together and in a composite form. This paper discusses the types of synthetic, non-synthetic (natural) and hybrid polymers that can be used in tissue engineering. It also provides information on the applications of polymers to prepare scaffolds and their interactions with cells and ways to improve their biological properties.