Lasers in Regenerative Medicine

Laser-based processes have recently been used for patterning cells as well as for fabricating scaffolds with microscale features. For example, recent studies have demonstrated that excimer laser-based methods may be used to create cell patterns, hydroxyapatite-bone cell composites, differentially adherent surfaces for cell attachment, and other structures with unique biological properties. For example, an excimer laser-based direct writing process has been used to fabricate mesoscopic patterns containing neuroblasts. Excimer laser-based direct writing has also been used to create microscale patterns of bioceramics such as zirconia and hydroxyapatite; co-deposition of hydroxyapatite, osteoblast-like cells, and extracellular matrix has been demonstrated. Osteoblast-like cells were noted to remain viable when processed with extracellular matrix and hydroxyapatite. These efforts indicate that laser direct writing technology has the potential to enable the development of tailored artificial tissues, which match the macroscale geometries and microscale topographical features of injured, damaged, or missing tissues.