*2.1. Organic Nanobiomaterials*

Nanostructured materials have characteristics like biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and non-carcinogenicity. When used for replacement or restoration of body tissue, they are regarded as organic nanobiomaterials [38]. Several research groups have shifted their attention from metallic to organic nanomaterials, such as lipids, liposomes, dendrimers, and polymers including chitosan, gelatin, collagen, or other biodegradable polymers [39]. Organic materials are combinations of a few of the lightest elements, particularly hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, and carbon-containing chemical compounds located within living organisms [40]. Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates (the polysaccharides) are the basic types of organic materials [41].

Table 1 presents a general classification of organic nanobiomaterials and summarizes representative applications of each material in tissue engineering. The following subsections present a general description of each nanomaterial type listed in Table 1 and a detailed literature survey on the corresponding developments for tissue engineering.


**Table 1.** Types of organic nanobiomaterials with their applications.
