Biomimetic composite hydrogels for tissue reconstruction

The possibility of accurately reproducing the structure and the mechanical behaviour of natural connective tissues is particularly useful in designing prostheses or synthetic models for in vivo and in vitro applications. Polymers and particularly composite biomaterials can take the advantage of a new design philosophies, such as "learning from nature. The filament winding technology seems to be the appropriate method of preparing ligament, tendon and intervertebral disc prostheses with mechanical properties close to the natural systems. By using this technology it is also possible to prepare 3-D scaffolds with an appropriate porosity.