A main challenge for soft tissue regeneration is to develop products and
therapies that minimize the fibrotic scarring characteristic of tissue repair. Scaffolds are
three-dimensional structures in which cells can attach, grow and differentiate to form ex
vivo or in vivo artificial tissue. They provide signals that trigger cell migration from the
wound bed, as well as cell differentiation and cell secretion of extracellular matrix
constituents. Scaffolds are made of natural or synthetic materials, with proteins from the
collagen family being among the most used natural polymers. Collagen type I is a major
component of the complex extracellular network of proteins that form the matrix of
mammal tissues. Besides having cell-binding sequences, this protein is biodegradable,
biocompatible, and exhibits a haemostatic effect when placed in open wounds. The
aforementioned properties have made this compound a widely used natural material to
produce scaffolds for tissue engineering skin and oral mucosa substitutes. This chapter
reviews some of the parameters that influence the bioactivity of scaffolds emphasizing
on collagen I scaffolds and their major applications in soft tissue engineering.
Keywords: Collagen I, artificial tissue, biomaterial, biocompatibility,
extracellular matrix, scaffold microstructure, soft tissue regeneration, regenerative
medicine, tissue engineering, wound healing.
