Table 1.
Biomaterial | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Natural polymer | Collagen [42,43,44] | Most abundant protein in mammals Main protein of extracellular matrix (ECM) Mostly found in tendons, ligaments, bone and skin tissue |
Highly biocompatible and biodegradable Relatively nonimmunogenic |
Poor mechanical strength Expensive |
Gelatin [45,46] | Derived from collagen Similar properties with collagen |
Biocompatible and biodegradable Relatively low cost |
Poor mechanical strength | |
Alginate [47,48,49] | Derived from cell walls of brown algae Natural polysaccharide |
Biocompatible and biodegradable Adequate crosslinking capacity Relatively low cost Non-toxicity |
Poor mechanical strength without crosslinking Low biological properties |
|
Synthetic polymer | Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) [50,51,52] | Silicon-based organic polymer | Non-toxic and inert Viscoelastic Homogeneous and isotropic |
Lacks in bio-functional cues |
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) [53,54,55] |
Water-soluble synthetic polymer | High solubility and biodegradability Relatively low cost Long-lasting durability High temperature stability |
Lacks in bio-functional cues |