How do growth factors help cells form replacement tissue on a scaffold?

In the field of regenerative medicine, growth factors are essential proteins that facilitate the development of replacement tissue by acting as chemical signals that regulate cellular behavior.1

When cells are seeded onto a scaffold—a structural framework often made of biodegradable polymers or collagen—the scaffold is typically incubated in a medium containing these growth factors. The growth factors help the tissue form through the following processes:2

• Stimulation of Growth and Division: Growth factors promote cell division and cellular differentiation, encouraging the seeded cells to proliferate and spread across the scaffold’s surface.12
• Migration and Recruitment: These proteins stimulate the migration of cells, such as resident fibroblasts and stem cells, into the damaged area or onto the scaffold structure.3
• Tissue Organization: By mimicking natural microenvironments, growth factors help guide the self-organization of cells into functional, structured tissues.3

As the cells proliferate and mature, they eventually form a cohesive substitute tissue, while the scaffold is gradually absorbed or dissolved by the body.2