Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, bridges and all other man made structures. Scaffolding is also used in adapted forms for formwork and shoring, grandstand seating, concert stages, access/viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, half pipes, art projects, and surgery.
1. In Drug Discovery / Medicinal Chemistry: “Scaffold classification” refers to categorizing chemical compounds based on their core structural frameworks (scaffolds). These scaffolds are the central part of a molecule to which side chains or functional groups are attached.
Purpose: To identify lead compounds with similar structures or predict biological activity.
Example: Classifying drugs based on common heterocyclic rings like benzodiazepines, indoles, or purines.
Tools: Bemis–Murcko scaffolds, scaffold trees/networks, Murcko frameworks.
2. In Tissue Engineering / Biomaterials: Here, “scaffold classification” refers to categorizing biomaterial scaffolds used to support tissue regeneration.
Criteria:
Material type: natural (e.g., collagen, chitosan) vs. synthetic (e.g., PLA, PGA).
Structure: Porous Microscaffold, fibrous, hydrogel, 3D printed.
Functionality: drug delivery, load-bearing, bioactive.
Purpose: To select appropriate scaffolds for different tissue types (bone, nerve, cartilage, etc.).
Stem cells are often transplanted with scaffolds for tissue regeneration; however, how the mechanical property of a scaffold modulates stem cell fate in vivo is not well understood 1).
A tissue-engineered nerve graft is typically constructed through a combination of a neural scaffold and a variety of cellular and molecular components. The initial and basic structure of the neural scaffold that serves to provide mechanical guidance and an optimal environment for nerve regeneration was a single hollow nerve guidance conduit. Later there have been several improvements to the basic structure, especially the introduction of physical fillers into the lumen of a hollow nerve guidance conduit. Up to now, a diverse array of biomaterials, either of natural or of synthetic origin, together with well-defined fabrication techniques, has been employed to prepare neural scaffolds with different structures and properties. Meanwhile different types of support cells and/or growth factors have been incorporated into the neural scaffold, producing unique biochemical effects on nerve regeneration and function restoration 2).
see Scaffolding protein.
Tissue engineering techniques, by replacing the damaged intervertebral disc (IVD) with scaffolds and appropriate cells, have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to treat degenerative disc disease 3).
The scaffold, as a major component in tissue engineering, provides space for cell proliferation and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). It is supposed to support physiological load in vivo instead of damaged tissue. So, an ideal scaffold is essential in IVD tissue engineering; it should have good biocompatibility, moderate porosity and be similar to native IVD in shape, structure and mechanical properties 4).