ABSTRACT
Abstract: Polymers play a crucial role in the development of bone scaffolds because their composition and structure may be tailored to specic needs being a promising alternative to autografts. Obviously, the development of polymers and their composites has contributed to new possibilities combined with cell-seeding techniques for tissue engineering applications. Signicant issues concerning bone implants are hereby presented to show current strategies and directions in the development of scaffolds used for bone tissue replacement and regeneration. This chapter deals with bio-based polymers and composites that have shown promising results to be used as implants for bone tissue replacement and regeneration. Bone scaffolds may be fabricated from naturally derived materials or synthetic polymers. Synthetic polymers have been widely used as scaffolds for tissue engineering due to reproducible fabrication and controlled properties, while naturally derived materials positively support cell adhesion and proliferation. However, both categories of polymers have their own advantages and drawbacks. Composite materials have been developed to provide improved characteristics compared to their individual components. Based on the literature, the most important for future development is
to create a scaffold that would provide proper interface and interconnection to the surrounding bone and could cooperate with cells in a biomimetic way.
