Solid freeform fabrication technology applied to tissue engineering with various biomaterials

An important component in tissue engineering is the three-dimensional (3D) scaffold, which guides cells to form target tissue, maintains tissue volume, and provides sufficient structural support during tissue regeneration. However, until recently, conventional scaffold fabrication methods have not satisfied the requirements for tissue regeneration. The development of additive fabrication technologies, known as solid freeform fabrication (SFF), has made it possible to fabricate scaffolds with very fine structures and complex geometries using computer-aided design (CAD) data acquired from medical images of patients. Due to the advantages of SFF technology, it is rapidly becoming the technique of choice for scaffold fabrication. Moreover, recent research has demonstrated that a variety of biomaterials are suitable for use in various SFF systems. This paper reviews the application, advancement, and potential of SFF technologies in the fabrication of scaffolds for tissue regeneration.