Pioneering bone regeneration: A review of cutting-edge scaffolds in tissue engineering

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is aims to develop advanced strategies to regenerate damaged or diseased bone, through the integration of principles from cellular biology, biomaterials science, and engineering. The vital aspect of these studies includes the design and fabrication of scaffolds that support cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, ultimately promoting the formation of new bone tissue. Recent developments in scaffold materials have focused on organic, inorganic, and composite biomaterials. Each of these showcasing unique and distinct advantages in terms of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical strength. Polymers, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), provide flexibility and degradation profiles, which are conducive to tissue integration. While ceramics, including hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), offer mechanical properties similar to native bone. The fusion of organic and inorganic components in composites has yielded scaffolds with enhanced functionality, such as improved osteo-conductivity and controlled degradation rates. Advanced fabrication techniques, particularly electrospinning and 3D printing, have revolutionized scaffold design by enabling precise control over pore size, porosity, and surface architecture, critical parameters for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone. These structural characteristics directly influence cellular behaviors such as migration, proliferation, and differentiation, which are crucial for successful bone regeneration. This review critically evaluates the recent advances in biomaterials for scaffold fabrication, with a focus on optimizing the interplay between material properties and scaffold architecture to improve therapeutic outcomes in bone regeneration. The findings underscore the importance of material selection and scaffold design in BTE and provide actionable insights for both researchers and clinicians in the development of next-generation scaffolds. By synthesizing recent progress in this field, the review highlights potential avenues for future research aimed at refining scaffold materials and fabrication techniques to enhance bone regeneration.