ABSTRACT
Being a modern discipline, tissue engineering encounters various challenges, such as the development of suitable scaffolds that temporarily provide mechanical support to cells at an early stage of implantation until the cells are able to produce their own extracellular matrix (ECM) [1]. Numerous biomaterials and techniques to produce three-dimensional (3-D) tissue-engineering scaffolds have been considered; biomaterials include polymers, ceramics, and their composites, as discussed in the literature [1-3]. In this chapter, we present an up-to-date summary of the fabrication technologies for tissue-engineering scaffolds, including the choice of suitable materials and related fabrication techniques, with a focus on the development of synthetic scaffolds based on bioceramics, glasses, and their composites combined with biopolymers for bone regeneration. Being one of the most promising technologies, the replication method for the production of highly porous, biodegradable, and mechanically competent Bioglass®-derived glass-ceramic scaffolds is highlighted. The enhancement of scaffold properties and functions by surface modi cation is also discussed, and examples of novel approaches are given.
