Topological shape optimization of multifunctional tissue engineering scaffolds with level set method

A tissue engineering scaffold provides a proper environment to support physiological loads, and enhance cell migration and delivery for re-modeling of regenerating tissue. Hence, in the design of scaffolds, it is required to control the scaffold architecture with mechanical and mass transport properties simultaneously. In this paper, a level set-based topology optimization method will be developed to systematically generate three dimensional (3D) microstructures for tissue engineering scaffolds, with the prescribed properties for mechanical stiffness, fluid porosity and permeability. To create the internal architecture for scaffolds with desired properties, the numerical homogenization method will be used to evaluate the effective properties of the microstructure for building the periodic composite media, and a parametric level set method will be introduced to find the optimized shape and topology of the microstructure. Several numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in achieving scaffolds with desired multifunctional properties, within the numerically estimated cross-property bounds between the effective bulk modulus and permeability under different porosities.