In tissue engineering, a highly porous artificial extracellular matrix or scaffold is required to accommodate mammalian cells and guide their growth and tissue regeneration in three dimensions. However, existing three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering proved less than ideal for actual applications, not only because they lack mechanical strength, but they also do not guarantee interconnected channels. In this paper, the authors analyze the factors necessary to enhance the design and manufacture of scaffolds for use in tissue engineering in terms of materials, structure, and mechanical properties and review the traditional scaffold fabrication methods. Advantages and limitations of these traditional methods are also discussed.

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Tissue engineering (TE) is an important emerging area in biomedical engineering for creating biological alternatives for harvested tissues, implants, and prostheses. In TE, a highly porous artificial extracellular matrix or scaffold is required to accommodate mammalian cells and guide their growth and tissue regeneration in three-dimension (3D). However, existing 3D scaffolds for TE proved less than ideal for actual applications because they lack mechanical strength, interconnected channels, and controlled porosity or pores distribution. In this paper, the authors review the application and advancement of rapid prototyping (RP) techniques in the design and creation of synthetic scaffolds for use in TE. We also review the advantages and benefits, and limitations and shortcomings of current RP techniques as well as the future direction of RP development in TE scaffold fabrication.

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Three-dimensional printing of cell-laden hydrogels has evolved as a promising approach on the route to patient-specific or complex tissue-engineered constructs. However, it is still challenging to print structures with both, high shape fidelity and cell vitality. Herein, we used a synthetic nanosilicate clay, called Laponite, to build up scaffolds utilising the extrusion-based method 3D plotting. By blending with alginate and methylcellulose, a bioink was developed which allowed easy extrusion, achieving scaffolds with high printing fidelity. Following extrusion, approximately 70%-75% of printed immortalised human mesenchymal stem cells survived and cell viability was maintained over 21 days within the plotted constructs. Mechanical properties of scaffolds comprised of the composite bioink decreased over time when stored under cell culture conditions. Nevertheless, shape of the plotted constructs was preserved even over longer cultivation periods. Laponite is known for its favourable drug delivery properties. Two model proteins, bovine serum albumin and vascular endothelial growth factor were loaded into the bioink. We demonstrate that the release of both growth factors significantly changed to a more sustained profile by inclusion of Laponite in comparison to an alginate-methylcellulose blend in the absence of Laponite. In summary, addition of a synthetic clay, Laponite, improved printability, increased shape fidelity and was beneficial for controlled release of biologically active agents such as growth factors.

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