ABSTRACT
Rapid prototyping (RP) fabrication is the process of converting a computer model into a three-dimensional (3D) physical object. The goal of RP fabrication is to build structures that meet certain small-scale requirements, such as material type or porosity, and large-scale requirements, such as features and dimensions. Several design parameters are important to most substrates or tissue engineering scaffolds. Biofabricated scaffolds should be three-dimensional and highly porous with an interconnected pore network for cell growth and flow transport of nutrients and metabolic waste, be biocompatible and bioabsorbable with a predictable degradation and absorption rate to match cell/tissue growth. A number of recent developments in the area of biofabricated substrates have involved combining or configuring single layers of fabricated constructs to create complex 3D geometries. Researchers have worked to build single layers combination (SLC) technologies that promote tissue generation within individual layers, but are greatly improved or provide some complementary function through addition of subsequent layers.
