A Review on Three-Dimensional Printed Silicate-Based Bioactive Glass/Biodegradable Medical Synthetic Polymer Composite Scaffolds.

In recent years, tissue engineering scaffolds have turned into the preferred option for the clinical treatment of pathological and traumatic bone defects. In this field, silicate-based bioactive glasses (SBGs) and biodegradable medical synthetic polymers (BMSPs) have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their shared exceptional advantages, like excellent biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and outstanding osteogenesis. Three-dimensional (3D) printed SBG/BMSP scaffolds can not only replicate the mechanical properties and microstructure of natural bone but also degrade in situ after service and end up being replaced by regenerated bone tissue in vivo. This review first consolidates the research efforts in 3D printed SBG/BMSP scaffolds, and then focuses on their composite mechanism. This review may help to provide a fresh perspective for SBG/BMSP composite system in bone regeneration. Impact statement SBG/BMSP composites have great potential in bone tissue regeneration and repair. This article reviews the research progress of three-dimensional printed SBG/BMSP scaffolds in recent years and summarizes the composite mechanism of SBG/BMSP system in bone tissue engineering, which contributes to the development of tissue engineering scaffolds.