Three-dimensional biomaterial degradation - Material choice, design and extrinsic factor considerations

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Precise control over biomaterial degradation is crucial for regenerative medicine.
• Conventional top-down fabrication methods face limitations in fine-tuning degradation.
• Nature-inspired bottom-up assembly offers a promising alternative for 'designer materials'.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review controllable bottom-up scaffold fabrication methods.
• To investigate how scaffold design and fabrication influence degradation and release kinetics.
• To highlight challenges and solutions for delivering multiple therapeutic agents and overcoming degradation product toxicities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scaffold fabrication techniques.
• Analysis of bottom-up assembly approaches.
• Discussion of controlled release strategies for cells, growth factors, and therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

• Bottom-up fabrication offers enhanced control over biomaterial degradation and release profiles.
• Scaffold design significantly impacts degradation rates and the release of incorporated elements.
• Challenges remain in orchestrating the release of multiple agents and managing degradation byproducts.

Conclusions:

• Controllable bottom-up fabrication methods are essential for advancing regenerative medicine.
• Further research is needed to optimize scaffold design for precise degradation and synchronized agent release.
• Addressing degradation product toxicity is critical for clinical translation of engineered tissues.