Computer-aided bone scaffold design: A biomimetic approach

Abstract

The design of 3D tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering application should, if possible, biomimic the complex hierarchy and structural heterogeneity of the replaced tissues. This is particularly true for the design of bone tissue replacement with matched spatial heterogeneity and mechanical properties to the replaced bone. This paper presents an image-based computer modeling approach for reconstruction, characterization, and biomimetic modeling and design of three-dimensional bone tissue replacement, including the outline of biomimetic modeling approach, reconstruction to CAD-based tissue anatomic representation, and the design and characterization of bone replacement.