Which material is often used as a porogen in tissue engineering?

Sodium chloride is commonly used as a porogen in tissue engineering because of its ability to create a defined porous structure within scaffolds. When incorporated into a polymer matrix, sodium chloride crystals can be dissolved away after the scaffold has been formed, leaving behind void spaces that mimic the natural extracellular matrix. This porosity is crucial for tissue engineering applications as it facilitates nutrient and waste exchange, enhances cellular infiltration, and supports tissue regeneration by providing a suitable environment for cell attachment and growth.

The choice of sodium chloride also offers advantages in terms of cost, availability, and biocompatibility, making it a preferred option for generating porous scaffolds. Other materials listed, while they have their own applications, do not serve this specific role effectively. For example, polyethylene is primarily used for its structural properties rather than for creating porosity. Gold particles are typically utilized for specific applications like drug delivery or imaging and do not contribute to the scaffold's porosity. Collagen, although an essential component in tissue engineering for its biocompatibility and structural properties, is not a porogen itself; instead, it serves more as a scaffold material.