TERM applications of polymer scaffolds are related to the role of space filling agents, delivery vehicles for bioactive molecules, and as 3D-structures that organize cells and present stimuli to direct the formation of a desired tissue. The success of scaffolds is based on the appropriate combination of materials to address the critical physical, mass transport, and biological design variables for each application. Hydrogels represent ideal scaffold material for their structure similar to the extracellular matrix of many tissues, and the possibility to be processed under relatively mild conditions
