Computer-aided tissue engineering: application to biomimetic modelling and design of tissue scaffolds

Computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE) enables many novel approaches in modelling, design and fabrication of complex tissue substitutes with enhanced functionality and improved cell-matrix interactions. Central to CATE is its bio-tissue informatics model that represents tissue biological, biomechanical and biochemical information that serves as a central repository to interface design, simulation and tissue fabrication. The present paper discusses the application of a CATE approach to the biomimetic design of bone tissue scaffold. A general CATE-based process for biomimetic modelling, anatomic reconstruction, computer-assisted-design of tissue scaffold, quantitative-computed-tomography characterization, finite element analysis and freeform extruding deposition for fabrication of scaffold is presented.