Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: role of surface patterning on osteoblast response

Abstract

The fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds necessitates amalgamation of a multitude of attributes including a desirable porosity to encourage vascular invasion, desired surface chemistry for controlled deposition of calcium phosphate-based mineral as well as ability to support attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of lineage specific progenitor cells. Scaffold fabrication often includes additional surface treatments to bring about desired changes in the surface chemistry. In this perspective, this review documents the important natural and synthetic scaffolds fabricated for bone tissue engineering applications in tandem with the surface treatment techniques to maneuver the biocompatibility of engineered scaffolds. This review begins with a discussion on the fundamental concepts related to biocompatibility as well as the characteristics of the biological micro-environment. The primary focus is to discuss the effects of surface micro/nano patterning on the modulation of bone cell response. Apart from reviewing a host of experimental studies reporting the functionality of osteoblast-like bone cells and stem cells on surface modified or textured bioceramic/biopolymer scaffolds, theoretical insights to predict cell behavior on a scaffold with different topographical features are also briefly analyzed.

Simulated Body Fluid Nucleation of Three-Dimensional Printed Elastomeric Scaffolds for Enhanced Osteogenesis

“…3D printed TPU after PVA dissolution displays a microfilamentous surface topography along the long-axis of the extruded filament. It is well known that microand nanostructural surface morphology can enhance osteoblast cell attachment and direct new tissue formation, 18,19 but, unlike most recent work, which utilizes 3D printing for patternization of scaffolds, the material used in this study upon solubilization of PVA induces microstriations on the surface of the scaffold. This inherent feature of the TPU scaffold may be suitable for applications requiring directionality of cell adhesion as in the case of neural tissue regeneration, which may be an additional application of this novel scaffold.…”

Application of 3D printing technology in bone tissue engineering

“…In addition to macroscopically connected pores (pore size > 50 μm) for excellent vessel growth and material transport [6], suitable microscopic pores (pore size < 50 μm) are also key to optimal osteogenesis [24]. Pore structure parameters, including pore size, porosity, connectivity between pores, degree of distortion of connected pores, and surface area, affect osteogenesis.…”

“…At the same time, the mechanical properties of the compact bone are very high, and the mechanical properties of the cancellous bone vary greatly from person to person, and the individual bones have different lengths, complex surfaces and different joint angles. Therefore, it is still difficult to fabricate bone scaffold by taking both the spatial structure of natural bone and mechanical properties into account [21,24,32].…”

Orthopaedic biomaterials: current status and future perspective

“…12 Novel manufacturing techniques also facilitate the intelligent fabrication of biomaterials and surface patterning has been recognised as one of the most effective approaches to modulate cell functionality. 13 The patterning of biopolymers and cells together to form a designed scaffold represents an area of immense future research activity and this is the subject of the final article.…”