Scaffold Fabrication Techniques of Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Critical Review

Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Nov 24;9(12):728. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9120728.

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is a promising alternative to repair bone defects using biomaterial scaffolds, cells, and growth factors to attain satisfactory outcomes. This review targets the fabrication of bone scaffolds, such as the conventional and electrohydrodynamic techniques, for the treatment of bone defects as an alternative to autograft, allograft, and xenograft sources. Additionally, the modern approaches to fabricating bone constructs by additive manufacturing, injection molding, microsphere-based sintering, and 4D printing techniques, providing a favorable environment for bone regeneration, function, and viability, are thoroughly discussed. The polymers used, fabrication methods, advantages, and limitations in bone tissue engineering application are also emphasized. This review also provides a future outlook regarding the potential of BTE as well as its possibilities in clinical trials.

Keywords: 4D printing; additive manufacturing techniques; biocompatibility; bone tissue engineering; clinical trials; electrohydrodynamic behavior; fabrication.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.