Contents -- Foreword -- New Polymers -- Mechanical properties of a self-assembling oligopeptide matrix -- Elastic protein-based polymers in soft tissue augmentation and generation -- Synthesis and characterization of polymer-(multi)-peptide conjugates for control of specific cell aggregation -- Synthesis and characterization of degradable polyurethane elastomers containing an amino acid-based chain extender -- Preparation and characterization of poly(propylene fumarate-co-ethylene glycol) hydrogels -- Creating biomimetic micro-environments with synthetic polymer-peptide hybrid molecules -- Polymer Modification -- Enhancing the interaction of central nervous system neurons with poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) via a novel surface amine-functionalization reaction followed by peptide modification -- Chemical modification and photograft polymerization upon expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) -- Biomolecular modification of p(AAm-co-EG/AA) IPNs supports osteoblast adhesion and phenotypic expression -- Surface grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) onto poly(acrylamide-co-vinyl amine) cross-linked films under mild conditions -- Periodontal ligament cell culture on the hydrophobic substrate coated with proteins of periodontal ligament fibroblast-conditioned medium -- Scaffolds -- Surface characteristics and biocompatibility of lactide-based poly(ethylene glycol) scaffolds for tissue engineering -- Poly(vinyl alcohol) synthetic polymer foams as scaffolds for cell encapsulation -- Skeletal myogenesis on elastomeric substrates: implications for tissue engineering -- Formation of a spherical multicellular aggregate (spheroid) of animal cells in the pores of polyurethane foam as a cell culture substratum and its application to a hybrid artificial liver.

Hepatocyte culture utilizing porous polyvinyl formal resin maintains long-term stable albumin secretion activity -- Role of synthetic extracellular matrix in development of engineered dental pulp -- Comparative study of the use of poly(glycolic acid), calcium alginate and pluronics in the engineering of autologous porcine cartilage -- Cultivation of fibroblast cells on keratin-coated substrata -- Hydrogels -- Heterogeneous PHPMA hydrogels for tissue repair and axonal regeneration in the injured spinal cord -- The influence of physical structure and charge on neurite extension in a 3D hydrogel scaffold -- Complexation of basic fibroblast growth factor with gelatin -- Ectopic bone formation induced by biodegradable hydrogels incorporating bone morphogenetic protein -- Subject index.