Which material is considered a synthetic tissue engineered scaffold?

Polylactic acid (PLA) is considered a synthetic tissue engineered scaffold due to its origin and properties. It is a biodegradable polymer that is widely used in tissue engineering applications because of its favorable mechanical properties and its ability to be synthesized in a controlled manner. PLA can provide a framework that supports cell attachment, growth, and differentiation while allowing for the gradual degradation of the scaffold as new tissue forms.

In contrast, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and fibrin are natural biomaterials. Collagen is a natural protein found in connective tissues, hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide, and fibrin is a protein involved in blood clotting. Although these natural materials are used extensively in tissue engineering for their bioactivity and biocompatibility, they do not fall under the category of synthetic materials. Therefore, polylactic acid stands out as a leading choice among synthetic scaffolding materials in tissue engineering.