Chapter 10 - Predictive Methodologies for Design of Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Abstract

The significant rise in bone-related injuries and diseases over the years has increased the need for bone grafting alternatives. The development of alternatives such as tissue engineered scaffolds depends on the fundamental understanding of the hierarchical and multiscale process of bone tissue regeneration. In this chapter, recent advances in the experimental and computational methodologies for the bone tissue engineering scaffolds design are presented. A new simulation-based multiscale in silico approach is discussed that provides predictive capabilities for time-dependent mechanical degradation behavior and also tailoring of properties of polymer nanocomposite scaffolds. The in silico modeling bridges molecular scale to macroscale and describes the influence of molecular interactions on the macroscale mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposite scaffolds. This chapter aims to provide a fundamental understanding of use of multiscale modeling approaches for design of bone tissue engineering scaffolds with predictive mechanical properties. The chapter also includes a review of the various modeling methodologies used in the multiscale approaches.