Technological advances in fibrin for tissue engineering

Fibrin is a promising natural polymer that is widely used for diverse applications, such as hemostatic glue, carrier for drug and cell delivery, and matrix for tissue engineering. Despite the significant advances in the use of fibrin for bioengineering and biomedical applications, some of its characteristics must be improved for suitability for general use. For example, fibrin hydrogels tend to shrink and degrade quickly after polymerization, particularly when they contain embedded cells. In addition, their poor mechanical properties and batch-to-batch variability affect their handling, long-term stability, standardization, and reliability. One of the most widely used approaches to improve their properties has been modification of the structure and composition of fibrin hydrogels. In this review, recent advances in composite fibrin scaffolds, chemically modified fibrin hydrogels, interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) hydrogels composed of fibrin and other synthetic or natural polymers are critically reviewed, focusing on their use for tissue engineering.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by Programa de Actividades de I + D entre Grupos de Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid, S2018/BAA-4480, Biopieltec-CM, Programa Estatal de I + D + i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, RTI2018-101627-B-I00, Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2021, PID2021-126523OB-I00, Proyectos en colaboración público-privada 2021, CPP2021-008396, LOLICOMB Project, PID2020-116439GB-I00 and Cátedra Fundación Ramón Areces. Grant PID2021-126523OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by “ERDF A way of making Europe.” Grant CPP2021-008396 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union “NextGenerationEU/PRTR.”Publicad