

However, although with the same chemical composition, some scaffolds are osteoinductive, whereas others are not.


Indeed, the chemical composition of scaffolds is an important qualification for their osteogenic activities. Thirdly, micropore-induced capillary force can not only anchor cells to the substrate surface but also deform the cells and draw them into the interconnect micropores, even if the micropore is smaller than cells.
#Scaffolding design micro free#
Particularly, surface roughness and surface free energy have a considerable influence on the protein adsorption. Secondly, surface properties of scaffolds, such as surface roughness, surface free energy, surface charge, and chemical functionalities, also play a non-negligible role in the interactions between scaffolds and cells. Furthermore, an ideal scaffold requires its degradation rate consistent with the regeneration rate of new bone tissue. Meanwhile, researchers have found that the degradation products, such as some ions (calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), etc.), could have a significant impact on biocompatibility, osteogenesis and angiogenesis. For another, the proper degradation rate of scaffolds in physiological environment is one of the essential characteristics for their applications in bone tissue repair and regeneration. attachment, proliferation, differentiation, biomineralization, etc.). For one thing, the cells interact with microporous scaffolds by adsorbed more osteogenic-related proteins on their surface via the membrane receptor to achieve improved osteogenic-related functions (e.g. The main possible related mechanisms can be summarized as follows.įirstly, the presence of microporosity can significantly enhance the specific surface area and improve the permeability of scaffolds, thereby providing more protein adsorption sites and enhancing the degradation of scaffolds. proteins, degradation products and capillary force) have been found in the microporous scaffolds. Until now, several possible factors (e.g.

Although the exact mechanism, by which the microporosity promotes the osteogenic-related functions of cells and new bone formation, is still being debated, the related hypotheses can be found in many previous researches. In fact, the cellular response to microporous scaffolds is a secondary event. More importantly, people also found that microporosity (pore size smaller than 10 μm) plays a significant role in enhancing the osteoinduction of scaffolds. Interconnected macropores are necessary to promote body fluid circulation and cell migration to the core of the implant. Typically, macropororosity (pore size above 100 μm) is usually required to facilitate the osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In recent years, significant progress has been made toward porous scaffolds with desired osteogenesis. However, material composition of scaffolds is not the only qualification to induce bone formation. At present, numbers of synthetic alternatives with potential osteogenesis have been tried as artificial scaffolds, including ceramics, polymers, metals and composites. Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering are attracting more and more attentions because they are heavily involved in regenerative medicine research. Although lots of achievements have been obtained, there is still a lot of work to do, some of which has been proposed in the conclusions and perspectives part.īone tissue engineering, mechanism, microporosity Introduction This review also pays attention to the relationship between the biological and mechanical properties of microporous scaffolds. Moreover, capillary force generated by the microporosity can improve the attachment of bone-related cells on the scaffolds surface, and even make the cells achieve penetration into the micropores smaller than them. Meanwhile, the unique surface properties of microporous scaffolds have a considerable effect on the protein adsorption. In summary, the increased specific surface areas by microporosity can offer more protein adsorption sites and accelerate the release of degradation products, which facilitate the interactions between scaffolds and cells. This review presents those possible mechanisms about how the microporosity enhances the osteogenic-related functions of cells in vitro and the osteogenic activity of scaffolds in vivo. Although the exact mechanism, by which it promotes new bone formation, is not well recognized yet, the related hypothesis can be found in many previous studies. Microporosity has a critical role in improving the osteogenesis of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
