Advances in Computational Modeling of Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Narrative Review of the Current Approaches and Challenges

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The process of designing and fabricating bone tissue engineering scaffolds is a multi-faceted and intricate process. The scaffold is designed to attach cells to the required volume of regeneration to subsequently migrate, grow, differentiate, proliferate, and consequently develop tissue within the scaffold which, in time, will degrade, leaving just the regenerated tissue. The fabrication of tissue scaffolds requires adapting the properties of the scaffolds to mimic, to a large extent, the specific characteristics of each type of bone tissue. However, there are some significant limitations due to the constrained scaffolds’ architecture and structural features that inhibit the optimization of bone scaffolds. Methods: To overcome these shortcomings, new computational approaches for scaffold design have been adopted through currently adopted computational methods such as finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Results: This paper presents a narrative review of the state of the art in the field of parametric numerical modeling and computational fluid dynamics geometry-based models used in bone tissue engineering. Computational methods for scaffold design improve the process of constructing scaffolds and contribute to tissue engineering. Conclusions: This paper highlights the benefits of computational methods on employing scaffolds with different architectures and inherent characteristics that can potentially contribute to a favorable environment for hosting cells and predict their behavior and response. By recognizing these benefits, researchers can enhance and optimize scaffold properties for future advancements in tissue engineering research that will lead to more accurate and robust outcomes.

Topics & Concepts