Investigating the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed bone scaffolds

Bone scaffolds are a type of tissue engineering constructs that are used for the regeneration and repair of bone tissue. These scaffolds serve as a temporary or permanent support structure for the growth of new bone tissue in areas where bone has been lost due to injury or disease. As such, the fatigue behavior of them, which is affected by several factors, including the scaffold's material properties, design, and fabrication method, is a vital consideration for their effectiveness and long-term durability. Some commonly used materials for bone scaffolds include metals, ceramics, and polymers, where the properties of these materials, such as their elastic modulus, strength, and toughness, can influence the fatigue behavior of the scaffold. In addition, a scaffold's architecture, porosity, and pore size can affect its mechanical performance as well as its ability to facilitate bone tissue regeneration. To evaluate the fatigue behavior of bone scaffolds, researchers use various experimental techniques, such as mechanical testing under cyclic loading conditions. Regarding the fact that 3D printing is one of the most commonly used techniques in preparing bone scaffolds, investigating the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed scaffolds could be of interest. Understanding the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed bone scaffolds is essential for developing safe and effective scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. This review discusses the effective parameters for the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed bone constructs and tries to gather the models and evaluations used in fatigue assessments.