Combinational methods of scaffold fabrication for joint-cartilage tissue engineering application

According to the increase of knee arthritis patients with cartilage erosion, researches are rising in the field of repair and treatment of this lesion. Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field for improving or replacing failed or malfunctioned body tissues of the body. Therefore, in recent years, researches in the field of cartilage tissue engineering has been broadly raised. Tissue engineering includes cells, scaffolds, and bioactive molecules as three major parts. To enhance the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of cells, recent researches has focused on the preparation of scaffolds similar to the extracellular matrix of various tissues of the body. Since years ago, using of typical scaffolding methods such as fiber bonding, solvent casting & particulate leaching and electrospinning were common methods but one of the new approaches for scaffolding are combining of common methods including typical methods and new methods like 3D printing together. The purpose of this work is to take advantage of several methods simultaneously. In a Classification, this method can be divided into three categories according to level of combination. First category is assembly level combination and consists of a combination of several scaffolds that made with different methods for fabrication of a scaffold. Second category is fabrication level combination and requires a device capable of fabricating scaffolds with several methods and assemble them simultaneously for fabrication of a scaffold. The third category is a technique level combination and consists of a combination of several scaffolding fabrication methods and invention of a new fabrication method and is limited to direct electrospinning writing up to now. This method is combination of electrospinning and micro extrusion method in 3D printing. In this study, after introducing typical methods and combination methods, the advantages and disadvantages of each method has been investigated. Finally, researches and their results in each category are reviewed

کلیدواژه ها:

Cartilage tissue engineering ، Scaffold ، Combinational methods of scaffold fabrication ، 3D printing