Nanotechnology for the Obtention of Natural Origin Materials and Environmentally Friendly Synthesis Applied to Tissue Engineering

Abstract

It is undeniable the increasing and current need to develop not only green materials and products but environmentally friendly and high-quality methods to synthesize them. In this sense, regarding the environmental impact, it is unquestionable the advantages of the utilization of natural materials and methods for synthesis. Naturally derived and recycled biomaterials applied in tissue engineering are advantageous over petroleum-derived ones mainly because of their biodegradability and sustainability. Specially, naturally derived compounds gain importance in these medical uses due to their capability to induce surrounding tissue and cell ingrowth in the implant site or to serve as temporary scaffolds for cell transplantation. Also, researchers are able to customize these biomaterials at the nanoscale in their physicochemical aspect considering each specific condition required by each respective application. On the other hand, interest in thenovel use of engineered living materials as biofactories and decellularization technique to produce nanomaterials has vastly increased. Additionally, significant technological advances have been made in the use of environmentally friendly synthesis methods including clean cross-linking, non-solvent-induced phase separation for membrane obtention, electrospinning, centrifugal electrospin, and solid free-form fabrication. All of them focused on avoiding the disposal of solvents and toxic materials. This chapter provides an overview of sustainable nanomaterials applied in tissue engineering from a diversity of sources and eco-friendly novel strategies of synthesis.