Engineering Design-controlled Interwoven Multimaterial Scaffolds Combining Hard and Soft Phases

Abstract

Abstract The graded nature of human tissues asks for functional scaffolds with gradients of properties capable of biomimetically repairing injured or deteriorated tissues. These functionally graded tissue engineering scaffolds are of special relevance for promoting the personalized treatment of articular pathologies and osteochondral defects and, despite the multiple research directions explored, no solution is yet perfect. In this study an innovative approach for engineering design-controlled and functionally graded scaffolds is presented. It stands out for combining hard-phase 3D printed lattices and soft-phase PDMS sponges or networks. The developed procedure is illustrated through two case studies: one dealing with the creation of PDMS and PDMS-PLA constructs, as chondral and osteochondral plugs; another focused on the prototyping of personalized PDMS-PLA/resin constructs, as scaffolds for the tissue engineering or repair of the meniscus. Promising potentials for the tissue engineering of complex-shaped and large-size osteochondral and meniscal defects are discussed, and a systematic description of future research directions is included.