Sponge as Scaffolds in Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering

In recent years, tissue scaffolds have emerged as a new therapeutic method for bone and cartilage regeneration, with sponge scaffolds gaining increasing attention. Sponge scaffolds possess several favorable characteristics, including appropriate biodegradability, excellent biocompatibility, good processability, powerful osteogenic ability, a unique porous structure, and adjustable pore size and connectivity. These attributes make sponge scaffolds a promising option for bone and cartilage regeneration. However, to date, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews summarizing the use of sponge scaffolds in this field. In this review, our objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress and development trends of sponge scaffolds. Firstly, we introduce the various materials used for sponge scaffolds. Secondly, we summarize the different preparation methods employed for creating sponge scaffolds. Subsequently, we discuss the functional additives that can be incorporated into the scaffolds. Finally, we present some special structures that can be achieved in sponge scaffolds. Our aim is for this review to offer valuable insights and serve as a comprehensive resource for the design of sponge scaffolds in cartilage and bone regeneration.