Recent advances in additive manufacturing technology for bone tissue engineering scaffolds

Appropriate scaffolds for tissue-engineered bone not only require mechanical strength, but also conditions that promote new bone growth. Bone tissue engineering scaffolds should establish the internal pore structure of the scaffolds and promote new bone growth. Additive manufacturing technology is widely used in the field of bone tissue engineering because it can directly and accurately construct the pore structure in 3D space, ensure internal connectivity of the scaffolds, and directly use biological materials. This paper reviews the development of additive manufacturing technology for bone tissue engineering. The differences between various additive manufacturing technologies are reviewed, with emphasis on the application of new technologies and materials. This paper also reviews the modeling processes used in bone tissue engineering, with emphasis on the optimization of the architectural design to achieve gradient structure and improved porosity and mechanical properties. Finally, this paper summarizes the 3D bioprinting technology that has fluid containing nutrients, matrix, and cells as constituent materials. Current problems and directions for the future development of additive manufacturing technology in the field of bone tissue engineering are also discussed.